Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7THE RENAISSANCETHE RENAISSANCEWHAT IS THE RENAISSANCE? Break with medieval period new ideas: secularism, individualism, civic virtue Continuity with the past old concepts: Christian themes, ancient classics, family & gender roles Italian v. Northern RenaissanceTHE RENAISSANCETHE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE New attitudes about humanity and the world man’s power and potential moral and civic concerns• VIRTU (virtue) Great flourishing of art, culture, commerce Decline of Church & religious outlookPope Alexander VI & the BorgiasTHE RENAISSANCETHE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE Renaissance politics• handbook for leadership• ends justify means NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527): THE PRINCE• wanted Italy to unify & centralizeTHE RENAISSANCEHUMANISM Concern with man in worldly context rejected transcendentalism looked to Greek & Roman classics  developed vernacular language (Italian) writing became professional occupation aided by newly invented Gutenberg printing press (1445)THE RENAISSANCEHUMANISM Impact on Education Separation of age groups development of new curriculum  training young men for service to society new focus on etiquette & deportmentCASTIGLIONE’S Book of the CourtierTHE RENAISSANCETHE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE Christian Humanism remained strongly rooted in Christian tradition ERASMUS (1466-1536) • blended classics with bible to teach moral lessons• promoted peace, tolerance & education• critical of church corruptionDESIDERIUS