The Renaissance (Rebirth)
Chapter 17
Effects of the Crusades
The Crusades stimulated trade by introducing Europeans to many desirable products like
spices and silk.
Trade promoted frequent contacts with the Byzantine and Muslim Empires (Greek and Roman
roots rediscovered)
Economic effects of the Crusades
Increased demand for Middle Eastern products
Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern markets
Encouraged the use of credit and banking (new economic institutions developed)
Economic Concepts of the Renaissance
Church rule against usury and the banks practice of charging interest helped to secularize
northern Italy.
Letters of credit served to expand the supply of money and to expedite trade.
New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numerals) were introduced.
Italian City-States
Wealth accumulated from trade with Middle East led to rise of Italian city-states like Florence
and Milan
Florence, Venice, and Genoa
1. Had access to trade routes connecting Europe with Middle Eastern markets
2. Served as trading centers for the distribution of goods to northern Europe
3. Were initially independent city-states governed as republics
Rich merchants were active civic leaders
1. Medici family used wealth and power to expand arts in Florence
2. Patrons, wealthy from newly expanded trade, sponsored works which glorified citystates in northern Italy
Humanism
Classical knowledge of the ancient Greeks & Romans fostered humanism in the Italian
Renaissance
Humanism (study focusing on human potential and achievements)
1. Celebrated the individual
2. Stimulated more study of Greek and Roman literature and culture
3. Was supported by wealthy patrons
The Renaissance produced new ideas that were reflected in the arts, philosophy, and
literature
Education became increasing secular
Medieval art & literature focused on the church and salvation; Renaissance art & literature
focused on individuals & worldly matters, along with Christianity
Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519
Renaissance Man: painter, sculptor, inventor, and scientist
Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
His Last supper shows personalities of Jesus’ disciples.
Michelangelo
Most famous for the way he portrayed human body in painting and sculpture
Painted Ceiling of Sistine Chapel and sculpted David
Italian Renaissance Writers
Petrarch
1. Called “Father of Renaissance Humanism”
2. Wrote sonnets: 14 line poems
Machiavelli
Observed city-state rulers of his day and produced guidelines for gaining and keeping power
by absolute rule
Wrote The Prince, described his ideas about power
1. The Prince was an early modern treatise on government
2. Not concerned with what was morally right but politically effective
3. Components
 Supported the absolute power of the ruler
 Maintains that the end justifies the means
 Advises that one should do good if possible, but do evil when necessary
The Northern Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance spread to northern Europe with the rise of travel, trade, and literacy
Art and literature changed as people from different cultures adopted Renaissance ideas.
Northern Renaissance thinkers merged humanist ideas with Christianity.
Northern Renaissance artists portrayed religious and secular subjects.
Growing wealth in Northern Europe supported Renaissance ideas (patrons)
Northern Renaissance Writers
Erasmus
1. Wrote The Praise of Folly (1509)
2. Believed in a Christianity of the heart, and said all people should read the Bible to
improve society
Sir Thomas More
1. Wrote Utopia (1516)
2. Book about an imaginary land where greed corruption and war do not exist.
Printing spreads Renaissance ideas
Gutenberg invents printing press
The movable type printing press and the production and sale of books (Gutenberg Bible)
helped disseminate ideas.