Exonomics and Politics in the Major Italian States

• Renaissance
• Secondary Education

The Renaissance in Europe

Lesson 1: The Italian States

What is Renaissance?

The Renaissance was an interesting period of European culture, artistic, political and economic "rebirth" following the Middle Ages.

The Renaissance

Generally describe as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the discovery of classical philosophy, literature and art.

Economic and Politics in the Major Italian States

1. What are the three major Italian states that were located in northern Italy?

2. What was the richest city-state?

3. Why do you think it was the richest state?

4. Who ruled this city-state?

5. What happened when the last Visconti died in 1447?

Venice

Server as a commercial link between Asian and Western Europe.

Venice

Venice was built on several islands. Which then merged to become one city.

The city became a It became a dependency of Byzantium in the 6th century A.D.

Venice

Because of its relation with the Byzantine Empire, this allowed Venice to become a great maritime power in by the 11th century.

The city drew traders from around the world.

Venice

Venice was officially a republic with an elected leader called a doge [DOHJ].

However, in reality, only a small group of wealthy merchant-aristocrats ran the government for their benefit.

Florence

Republic ----> dominated the northern Italian region of Tuscany.

During the 14th century ---> a small group of merchants established control of the government.

Italian Tuscany

The Medici Family

In 1434 --> Cosimo de Medici took control over the city, and the wealthy family of Medici ran the government behind the scene.

The Medici Family

Cosimo de Medici and later his grandson Lorenzo de Medici used their wealth and influence to dominate the city. During their rule Florence was the cultural center of Italy.

Lorenzo de Medici

The magnificent

was an Italian statesman, banker, de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic and the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of Renaissance culture in Italy.

As a patron, he is best known for his sponsorship of artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo.

As Italian states became wealthier, the power of church began to decline.

Some of church doctrines were openly ignored. Such as usury.

Charging borrowers a fee on money loaned to them.

An Economic Decline

Most of the Florentine economy was based on manufacturing cloth.

During the late 1400s Florence experience an economic recession.

The main reason for this decline was the increasing competition from English and Flemish cloth makers.

Flemish: relating to Flanders, its people, or their language. And Flanders is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium

During this time, a Dominican preacher named Girolamo Savonarola began condemning the corruption and excesses of the Medici family.

Citizens, due to their frustration with the difficult economic conditions and  turned to Savonarola.

His attacks weakened the Medici family.

Then, during the French invasion of Italy in 1494, the Medici Family were exiled from Florence.

Eventually the Florentines got tired of Savonarola's strict regulations of gambling, swearing, horseracing, swearing, painting, music, and books.

The pop also was angry with Savonarola, as he attacked the corruption of the church.

In 1498 Savolarona was accused of heresy and executed on stake.

Renaissance Society

During the middle ages, the society was divided into three social classes: the clergy, the nobility, and the peasants and townspeople.

Some changes during the Renaissance occurred

The Nobility

Nobles and aristocrats dominated the society

The nobility were only a small portion of the society. However, they held important political positions and served as advisers to kings.

The characteristics of the noble people

During the Renaissance, noble people were supposed to have certain characteristics or qualities.

These characteristics were expressed in The Book of the Courtier, written by Baldassare Castiglione (published in 1528)

Peasants and Townspeople

Peasants were the vast majority of population

Serfdom was decreasing

 the condition of a tenant farmer bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of a landlord

At the time of Renaissance, the peasantry made up 85 to 90% of the population in Europe.

By the end of the 15th century, more peasants were becoming legally free.

Townspeople
Townspeople consisted of:
Patricians: they worked in trade, industry, and banking, enabling a dominance in urban communities.

Burghers- (shopkeepers, artisans, guild masters) provided goods and services for consumption.

Below them were,
workers (laborers).
Then the unemployed

Generally, the patricians received eduction to pursue various professions. (Artisans, Bankers, etc.)

They also had the opportunity to learn to read, play instruments, and learning various things about their profession.
Due to earning more money, they also had a higher quality of clothes.

Family during renaissance

Family bond was a source of security.

Parents carefully arranged marriages to strengthen business or family ties.

Arranged marriages: these marriages contracts included a dowry. Which is a sum of money that the wife's family gave to the husband upon marriage.