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Feudalism of medieval europe
Chapter 1 section 1:the renaissance in italy
Chapter 1 section 1:the renaissance in italy
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AP Euro Ch10 notes 1) The Italian Renaissance • Italy was fragmented with multiple monarchs1 • “Jacob Burckhardt, a Swiss historian, described the Renaissance as the “prototype of the modern world”2 • New secular and scientific views in Italy1 • People gained a more statistical and rational approach to reality • Scholars agree Renaissance was a transition from medieval to modern times2 • “Different from the feudal fragmentation of medieval times, Renaissance Europe was characterized by growing national consciousness and political centralization, an urban economy based on organized commerce and capitalism, and growing lay control of secular thought and culture"2 • The Italian City State • Growth of City-States • Its special location as the “natural …show more content…
• “Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo the Magnificent, ruled Florence in a totalitarian fashion during the last quarter century of the fifteenth century” • Lorenzo’s brother assassinated by the Pazzi (rival family), who plotted with the pope against the Medicis so Lorenzo was a cautious ruler Italy • Powerful groups combined to create a podesta which consist of strongmen or despots to prevent conflict • Podesta held executive, military, and judicial authority, and had a goal of maintaining order no matter what • Condottieri—military brokers who were hired by despots that sent mercenary armies to despots because despots couldn’t rely on loyalty of their people • Visconti and Sforza families in Milan were despots that came to rule their city-states free from restrictions or interference from their oligarchies • Political conflict of the Renaissance period gave birth to diplomacy therefore most city-states established resident embassies and appointed ambassadors to keep watch on the other …show more content…
• Guillaume Budeand19 and Jacques Lefevre d’Etaples19 lead French humanism • Protestant reformer John Calvin19 was inspired by French humanists • Spain • Humanism strengthened the Catholic Church in Spain • Humanist Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros under Queen Isabella enforced strict Catholic orthodoxy • Founder of the University of Alcala • The Complutensian Polygot Bible was his greatest achievement because he placed the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin versions of the Bible in parallel columns • Overall Christian humanism relates to the Renaissance spirit of emphasizing individualism but exemplifying Christian ideas as well and it challenged the Church as Christian humanist sought a truer way of Christianity which sparked religious reformations17 5) Voyages of Discovery and the New Empires in the West and East • Discovery of the Americas expanded the horizons of Europe intellectually and geographically • Mineral and human wealth caused new cultural and economical forces to be introduced and trade shifted to the Atlantic seaboard • Desire to increase the power of monarchs and the Church was the motivation for exploration20 • The Portuguese Chart the Course • Prince Henry captured the North African Muslim city of Ceuta for its slaves, gold, and to ensure a sea route around Africa to Asia’s spice
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
Black takes a thoroughly intellectual and social approach to the study, by examining the changing interpretations of ideas and social interactions in Milan. Black writes on the ways in which the families secured their absolute power and legitimized it through legal arguments. Black argued that the Sforza and Visconti were able to legitimize their absolutist rules through the use of their lawyers, and that when the legal rhetoric turned against them, their power waned. This is significant to the study of Italian Imperial Renaissance power first and foremost because it shows how Milanese rulers functioned, and secondly, because it’s argued excellently. Black is in conversation with sources like Kenneth Pennington frequently in her work, she builds off of his and other similar sources on imperial governance and applies legal imperial theory to Milan specifically. Black successfully knocks home her point and simultaneously studies the significance of the Sforza and Visconti ruling families in wider Italy. My only knock on Black is that I would like more on other rulers or cities, perhaps more comparison between the Sforza and Visconti, it is there but it would not hurt the work at all to expand on it, but Milan is undoubtedly the best example of native non-Papal imperial power in
Cosimo de’ Medici was an Italian man who was around during the Renaissance. He was one of the sons of Giovanni di Bicci. He was born on September 27, 1389 in Florence, Italy. He was a member of the house of Medici, who gained wealth and power in the 13th century through their success in commerce and banking. In the 15th Century the Medici bank was the most important financial institution in Europe. Cosimo’s work with the bank was influenced the renaissance: He made the bank “peak,” got arrested and impacted the renaissance.
Lemaitre, Alain J., and Erich Lessing. Florence and the renaissance: the quattrocento. paris: Terrail, 1993.
The Renaissance has not ceased to be an age of discussion and debate among historians throughout the recent centuries. The vibrant nature of the era marks it as a most fascinating period of history. The Renaissance can be described as an age carrying the essence of “self-discovery and fulfillment, of recognition of human worth, and a dynamic outpouring of artistic activity.” This new world flourishing with art and creative optimism was also steeped in a spirit of “revolt of the Medievalists.” In an effort of “rebirth,” the previous culture of the Middle Ages was rejected, and even scorned. Foundational principles in all fields were overstepped, and old cultural norms were practically obsolete. It was an era whose humanistic philosophy greatly impacted the lens through which man viewed himself and the world.
Lucrezia died in childbirth (Mallet 312) at the age of thirty-nine (Hibbert 309-310) on June 24, 1519 in Ferarra, Italy (Lucrezia Borgia 1). Her death was devastating to Alfonso d’Este. He wrote a letter to his nephew saying, “I cannot write this without tears, knowing myself to be deprived of such a dear and sweet companion” (Duke of Ferrara 357). His words are in direct contrast to the widely held belief that Lucrezia was a ruthless, evil, and wicked member of the Borgia family. This reputation was not warranted by Lucrezia’s actions. She was used by her family, was assumed to be as corrupt as her notorious relatives and her name was negatively impacted by gossip. After she moved to Ferrara and was finally free from the shadow of her evil family, Lucrezia’s true sympathetic nature finally showed through where she lived her life as a kind, devout Christian.
...d strongly supported with historical/political facts and statistics referring to the period of Medici rule in Florence.
Eventually Savonarola, a reform priest, comes to power, and his crusading zeal threatens Lorenzo de’ Medici’s family and the Florentine art world.
When southern speaks of the growth of government he speaks of a system which advantages were based on geography. “It was no accident that after the confusion of the 10th century the strongest governmental units appeared where there was least in the way of marsh, mountain or forest to separate one community from another – … which added to his misery in one way – saved him from the misery of organized tyranny.” The governmental set up of early Italy although run by tyrants like Frederick II seemed to be set up as our modern government is today. The tendency to encourage an individualistic personality and break off one’s self as an individual resulted in many kinds of self-expression some of them even aggressive. In these times it was obvious that the Italian peninsula had a great deal of tyrant rulers. Burckhardt adds a quote that “Absolute power, with its temptations to luxury and unbridled selfishness, and the perils to which he was exposed from enemies and conspirators, turned him almost inevitably into a tyrant”. The despots Burckhardt speaks about were not granted the freedom of individuality. Starting in the fifteenth century however the character of the despot began to be
Through historical and economic data this research paper will express how Florence flourished from a mercantile economy in the Renaissance.
The Medici’s were a prominent family in the Renaissance, who ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737. They are regarded as being one of the most powerful and richest families in the whole of Europe. The Medics used this great status and wealth to develop an improved Florence, one that was significantly influenced by the Renaissance. The Medici family can most certainly be regarded as the significant heroes of the Renaissance. This is due to their significant promotion and patronage in the arts, in turn bringing focus back to the antiquities, a major importance during the Renaissance period. Furthermore, the Medicis can be considered the great heroes of the Renaissance, due to their significant influence of Renaissance Humanist thinking. On top of this, although the Medici family were allegedly corrupt and supposedly paid many bribes in order to become so powerful, they still focused on benefiting the heart of the Renaissance- the city-state of Florence- and should thus not be considered the great villains of the Renaissance, but instead the heroes.
As previously stated, the renaissance was the rebirth of society. What led to this was a decrease in faith because of the great schism, a conflict between two popes, where both said they were the pope. People were starting to take a secular view compared to what the church told them to believe. Society was changing to where individual viewpoints mattered. With politics starting to matter, and a better economy, places were beginning to be city centered, specifically city states, which are urban societies that have taken secular views.
Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, so enthralled “In dignity, and for the liberal arts” (1.2 73), twelve years prior lost his dukedom to his brother Antonio. Antonio, in turn, betrayed Prospero’s trust by forming an alliance with the enemy, the King of Naples Alonso. This treaty gave Alonso “annual tribute, [to] do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend The dukedom, yet unbowed—alas, poor Milan—To most ignoble stooping” (1.2 113-116). Ultimately, Milan gave up its freedom and became subject to Naples. Prospero, whose “library/ Was dukedom large enough” (1.2 109-110), lost his position as the Duke of Milan and he and his three year old daughter Miranda were sent “abroad a barque bore…to sea” (1.2 144-145). Eventual...
Before the civic spirit and individuality evident and necessary to the Renaissance came to fruition, there had to have been something to trigger a change in the mentality of the medieval civilization. The medieval manorialism fostered illiteracy and ignorance and a very narrow view of the outside world, people did not question their place, the church, or the need to prepare for the after life. The "awakening" of the Renaissance came after the dawn of a new Roman Empire way of thinking.. Humanism is the intellectual, literary and scientific movement of the 14th to the 16th centuries without which the Renaissance would never have evolved. Humanism is a rediscovery and reevaluation (analysis) of classical civilization and the application of the aspects of this civilization to intellectual and social culture in the current time. It is a blend of concern for the history and actions of human beings, mainly the ancient Greeks and Romans, such as, Cicero, Ceaser, and Augustine, with the belief that man was at the center of the universe. Contrary to Christian teachings, humanist believe that man is subject and creator of his own destiny, governed by ideals of beauty, grace, and harmony and the glorification of individual freedom. These ideas provide the vehicle, in which the transition from medieval thinking of vassalage (servitude) and the afterlife to a return to the principles of the Pax Romana occurred. Christian humanism came to mean individualism and the value of life in the present.
The typical European peasant living in the sixteenth century would have been completely unaware of the slow political and social changes brewing in Europe, a period of time historians now refer to as the Renaissance. No one at the time could foresee the chains of circumstance that would free Europeans of their medieval mindset and bring them into the modern, forward-thinking era. While many individual events lead to this rebirth of art, education, and social reform, the source of these changes can be attributed to the rise of humanist thinkers. Many humanist inspired change throughout Europe most importantly including the increase of education and scientific discovery and the reform of the Catholic Church, ultimately loosening European’s dependency