European History The Renaissance

The Renaissance ● A time of ○ Rediscovery of classical (greek and Roman) knowledge and culture ○ Blending of Classical and Christian Art and philosophy ○ Begins in Italy Early Renaissance Giotto- early Renaissance artist - palm sunday paintings Renaissance Art - Brunelleschi- dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, founding hospital in Florence - Masaccio - Trinity 1427 - Painter - Botticelli- Primavera, 1478 - Birth of Venus Mid Renaissance - Ghiberti - doors High Renaissance - Leonardo da Vinci- Mona Lisa - Michaelangelo- Statue of David, Roof of Sistine Chapel in Rome Northern Renaissance- Jan Van Eyck - sacrifice of the Lamb of God (altar piece) - Albrecht Durer- sensitive to light and detail Humanism - A movement to follow Greek and roman Philosophy and morals - Petrarch- Italian Poet, rediscovered ancient texts, helped revive classical Latin, one of the first people to think of the Middle Ages as the Middle Ages Humanistic Education- concerned with the spread of knowledge - renewed Latin, Greek, Philosophy - Greek allowed people to read the Bible in its original language Invention of Printing ● Johannes Gutenburg - first Bibles published- 1455 Printing ● Makes books cheaper - More people are able to read ● Spread of information and ideas much faster Christian Humanism ● Study of Hebrew and Greek Bible in its original languages ● Use ancient texts, languages to reform the Church ● Erasmus- makes new Latin translations of Bible ○ Criticizes people’s piety as superstitions ○ Calls for return to piety centered on Christ ○ Stays faithful to Catholic Church but influences many into learning European Exploration ● Europe and Asian trade follows the Silk Road ○ Trade across Asia peaceful after Mongul conquests ○ Trade in spices especially ○ Marco Polo goes to China, publishes popular book about travels Portugese Exploration ● Wanted to access Asian spices themselves and get around Muslim trades ● Sail down the coast of Africa, try to find the route to Asia ● Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal sends first explorers ● 1498- Vasco de Gama- sails around Africa and reaches India ● Portugese establish trading empire from Portugal to Indonesia Columbus ● Sent by Ferdinand and Isabella to find Western route to Asia ● October 12, 1492 lands on San Salvador (discovers New World) ● Ferdinand and Isabella send him back three times ○ 1. To bring Christianity to the native peoples ○ 2. To find source of wealth ● He brings back slaves instead and his settlers exploit the natives ○ Which angers Ferdinand and Isabella ● Amerigo Vespucci- America ○ First guy who realizes America is its own continent More Exploration ● 1522- Spanish expedition under Ferdinand Magellan- first to travel around the world Spanish Conquistadors conquer the Americas ● Aztec Empire in Mexico- constand war, brutal oppression, practice human sacrifice ● Inca Empire in SOuth America ○ 1521- Hernan Cortes- conquers Aztec Empire ● Helped by diseases - smallpox- that he brings from Europe ● Natives ally with him to free themselves from the Aztecs ○ 1533- Fransisco Pizarro- conquers Inca Empire 1493- Pope divides world exploration into East and West 1494- Treaty of Tordesillas- Portugese get Brazil ● Massive conversion of nations to Christianity by missionaries ● Spanish find silver mines- Spain becomes massively wealthy ● Conquistadors oppress and enslave nations ○ King,Queen, and Catholic clergy defend the nations ○ Bartolomé de las Casas- Dominican friar, defends human dignity of nations ■ Wins Valladolid Debate, argues natives are human beings Columbian Exchange ● Colonists bring European crops, animals, and diseases (especially smallpox) to new world- 90% of the Natives die ● Colonists bring back potatoes, tomatoes, corn