The Renaissance
Social impact in Europe after the Black Death
Crusade and the increased interaction between different cultures
Role of city-states
Classical heritage of Greco-Roman Culture
The Renaissance men such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo
The emergence of humanism, different artistic and technological innovations
What is the Crusade?
The Latin Church in the Middle Ages started, supported, and at times even led a series of religious conflicts known as the Crusades. These military journeys to the Holy Land between 1095 and 1291 with the goal of liberating Jerusalem and the surrounding territory from Muslim authority are the most well-known. Several military missions were organized after the First Crusade, which ended in the capture of Jerusalem in 1099, and served as the center of European history for decades. After the 15th century, crusading witnessed a sharp decrease.
Trade between Muslim and Christian nations in Europe did not start with the Crusades. Spanish Muslims and Christians engaged in active trade and created high-quality items for sale, so did Italian traders who traveled across the Mediterranean to deal with Constantinople, Syria, and Egypt. Sicily served as a hub for trade and the manufacture of products while it was ruled by the Muslims and subsequently the Normans. Metal goods, silk fabrics, glass, as well as various foodstuffs, dyes, and fragrances, were among the most valuable trade items.
Florence
The Renaissance got its start in Florence. The influential Medici Family, who controlled it, used their wealth to promote Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, among other painters. The enormous dome atop the Florence Cathedral is one of the first examples of Renaissance architecture. Florence was well-known for producing textiles and serving as a hub for finance.
Milan
Early in the 1400s, Milan was still a Middle Ages metropolis devoted to conquest of Florence and battle. But in 1450, the Sforza family seized control. They established calm in the area, and the Renaissance's fresh concepts and artistic creations followed. Armor suits were among the metalwork that made Milan renowned.
Venice
Because of its trade with the Far East, the island city of Venice had grown into a strong city-state. It imported goods like silk and spices. Venetian trade, however, started to decline once Constantinople was taken over by the Ottoman Empire. Venice, which was known for its exquisite glassware, ruled the seas around Italy's east coast.
Rome
Rome's city-state and Catholic Church were both under the pope's control. Under Nicholas V's direction, extensive reconstruction of the city of Rome began in 1447. Rome started to promote the arts and commissioned works by Raphael and Michelangelo, helping to fuel the Renaissance. Michelangelo designed St. Peter's Basilica and painted the Sistine Chapel's ceiling.
Naples
During the Renaissance, a large portion of southern Italy was governed by the city-state of Naples. One of the last city-states to join the revolution, Alfonso I overthrew the city in 1443. He aided Renaissance thinkers, authors, and painters. Naples, where the mandolin was created, also became well-known for its music. Spain took control of Naples in 1504.
Art, science, and culture underwent a fresh transformation throughout the Renaissance. With first the rediscovery of ancient philosophy, literature, and art, as well as the new discoveries in travel, innovation, and style, it altered the way the citizenry thought. With new discoveries, fashion trends, and investigations that continue to have an impact and be practiced now, this age had such a significant impact on how people felt about the world. The very significant individuals who influenced this era are referred to as "Renaissance Men." They were experts in engineering, creativity, innovation, and travel, and many of their discoveries and creations are still in use today.
The Decameron's begin covers many of the widespread social and economic impacts of the epidemic. People fled cities, left behind their friends and family, and cut themselves off from the outside world. Funeral ceremonies were reduced to a formality or abolished completely, and labor was abandoned. Some people resisted the disease with prayer since they believed God's vengeance was coming down on mankind. Some believed that they ought to live by the proverb, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die." Following the plague, there was a decline in religious belief brought on by the deaths of a large number of priests as well as the ineffectiveness of prayer un preventing disease and death.
The role of merchants (i.e. Medici family)
To supply their clients unique commodities from far locations throughout the Middle Ages, traders created long-distance trade routes. During the Renaissance, traders used their understanding of global marketplaces and trade products to grow their businesses. Some of these traders rose to prominence as bankers. They started lending money, moving money around, and exchanging other kinds of money. Banks became significant entities as demand for financial services rose. The Fugger family of Augsburg, Germany, and the Medici of Florence ran two of Europe's oldest and greatest banks.
The idea of Renaissance man, also known as Universal Man or Uomo Universale, emerged in Renaissance Italy from the belief that "a man can do all things if he wills," as articulated by one of its most renowned proponents, Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72). The ideal incorporated the fundamental principles of Renaissance humanism, which saw man as the center of the world and as having boundless potential for growth. This viewpoint gave rise to the idea that mankind should strive to grasp all knowledge and maximize their own potential.
Italian playwrights and poets of the Early Renaissance frequently drew inspiration for their works from Greek and Roman antiquity. In this way, the poets Petrarch and Dante stand out. Dante's The Divine Comedy is a three-act drama composed in the style of ancient Greece that regularly alludes to classical poetry, notably Virgil's Aeneid. In this piece, even Virgil acts as Dante's guide to the underworld. In addition to being a passionate proponent of humanism, the Latin scholar, poet, writer, and lyricist Petrarch also drew inspiration from Roman literature and culture in many of his works.
The rediscovery of classical Latin and Greek writings by writers like Cicero, Plato, and Aristotle contributed to the revival of classicism during the Italian Renaissance. Following the ignorance of the medieval era, these works were romanticized and considered to be a crucial component of the cultural enlightenment and intellectualism.