The Southern Renaissance

SLMS/12
Why Italy? Why Italy? Why Italy? Why Italy?

The Renaissance is typically thought to
have originated in Italy, specifically in the
region of Tuscany in the city of Florence.
What factors allowed this to happen?
Location, location, location! Location, location, location! Location, location, location! Location, location, location! Italy
is a peninsula located centrally
in the Mediterranean Sea. As
such, she was poised to
dominate trade.
A revival of trade revival of trade revival of trade revival of trade occurred in the wake of
the Crusades. As trade increased between
the Middle East and Europe, Italy was the
natural facilitator of that trade. Italian city
states grew rich, as they became the
merchandizing middle men. This caused the
growth of towns, and allowed feudalism to
decline in Italy more rapidly than in other
areas of Europe.
Additionally, the wealth that existed in
trading families in Italian cities led to the
rise of artistic patronage rise of artistic patronage rise of artistic patronage rise of artistic patronage (paying of artists
for their work). As a direct result of this, art
began to flourish. Artists go where the
money is, and wealthy merchants were
anxious to put their wealth on display
through commissioned artwork.
Finally, Italy had a direct link direct link direct link direct link
to the Empire of Ancient to the Empire of Ancient to the Empire of Ancient to the Empire of Ancient
Rome Rome Rome Rome. Roman ruins lay
scattered about Italy, and
served as a reminder and an
inspiration to scholars, authors, artists and
architects everywhere. Much of the art in
this period drew inspiration from the
classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.
Likewise, much of the literature and schol-
arly work of the Southern Renaissance took
inspiration from Greco-Roman scholars.
The Medici Family of Florence The Medici Family of Florence The Medici Family of Florence The Medici Family of Florence

Florence had grown wealthy as a result of
trade and banking. The florin was a currency
named after the city and was used
throughout Italy and Europe. Powerful
merchant families began to patronize the
arts, and foremost among them
was the Medici family.
The Medici family ruled the
city, and actively encouraged all
wealthy families to patronize
the arts and create public works. The most
famous Medici was Lorenzo de Medici,
sometimes called Lorenzo the Magnificent.
As a result of this, artists flocked to
Florence, and it became the center for
Renaissance art, architecture and culture.
A Renaissance Man A Renaissance Man A Renaissance Man A Renaissance Man

Baldassare Castiglione wrote in his Book of Book of Book of Book of
The Courtier The Courtier The Courtier The Courtier, about the importance of a well
rounded education. It was important that a
gentleman speak several
languages, play a musical
instrument, write poetry,
and have an education in
areas of mathematics, sci-
ences, philosophy, rhetoric
and theology. It was considered a universal
education, and thus, centers of higher learn-
ing were called Universities.
Education became a new mandate, as the
ideal man changed from the chivalrous me-
dieval knight to the well-rounded and edu-
cated man. Wealthy young men flocked to
medieval and newly founded universities. A
well rounded individual who is talented in
many areas if often called a Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance
Man Man Man Man after this Renaissance ideal.

1. Where did the Renaissance begin?



2. EXPLAIN four reasons why it began here.
(Please give a full explanation )

a.




b.






c.






d.







3. What caused Florence to be a wealthy
city?



4. Define: florin

5. What did wealthy merchant families do
with their money?




6. Reflect: Why might wealthy families have
been willing to pay for expensive public pro-
jects?








7. Why did Florence become the center for
Renaissance art, architecture and culture?




8. According to Castiglione, what was in-
cluded in a well rounded education?





9. From whence is the name University de-
rived?



10. How did the ideal man change between
the old Medieval and the new Renaissance
period?
Global History Name _____________________________________
The Southern Renaissance