By: Kristen Gallogly
What was the Renaissance? | When and where did the Renaissance begin?
Influences of the Renaissance | Art and Architecture | Music | Literature | Math and Science
How the Renaissance affects us. | Works Cited
The
Renaissance means "rebirth" in French.
The period is characterized as “rebirth” because the period composed traditional
customs and decorations. The period was like the Greeks and Roman, very
traditional and ornate. “Rebirth” describes the logical and financial changes
that occurred during the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries of the Renaissance.
New inventions were made including the printing press and reopening the Silk
Road for trade. “Humanities” was also a new concept. "Humanities" helped people
advance in many subjects including art, architecture, music, literature, math,
and science. The Renaissance was an enormous step for society. They invented and
discovered new things that made life easier. Thanks to their contributions we
live, today, an easier life.
When and where did the Renaissance begin?
The
Renaissance occurred when Europe emerged from the economic stagnation
during the middle Ages and experienced time of growth in the pecuniary category.
The Renaissances started in Italy mainly Florence, Milan, Venice, and Genoa. It
began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned through the 14th to the 17th century.
The Greek and Roman writings influenced the Renaissance. The scholars fled to Italy ,escaping the Turks, with ancient Greek and Roman Writings. Many sculptors and paintings from the Greek and Roman also influenced the art of the Renaissance. Merchants were very influential because after the Black Death, trade increased and new goods flowed in. The Black Death caused supply in demand, because all the goods were there, but no one to sell them. The merchants had much power because they could charge a lot for goods, when people bought them. Humanism also had a big influence on the Renaissance because instead of just learning religion people were learning the abilities of human. For example, some children learned public speaking. Bankers also were influential because they were able to pay interest to the people, and use some of the people's money on beautifying the people.
Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy, on April 15, 1452. Besides painting beautiful pictures like the Mona Lisa and the last Supper, he made advances in science. He prepared a series of drawings for Pacioli's book Divina Proportione, published in 1509. The drawings were of regular solids in a skeletal form to be engraved as plates. I chose Leonardo a Vinci because he made many significant advances during the 1400s. I also chose him because he focused on many things- art, architecture, paintings, anatomy, and engineering. Leonardo proved that the more diverse your thinking is, the more successful you are.
Henry VIII made many contributions to the society. He lived in York, and was born during the year of 1491. He increased the government bureaucracy, and led to royal supremacy. This royal supremacy lasted till’ 100 years after his death! He separated the churches, the Church of England from Roman Catholicism (whole of Western Christendom). I picked him because he had the courage to separate great things, and stand up for what he thought was right. I also chose him because never gave up until his job was done. That proves king Henry VIII to be a persevered person. Henry made a concept of making enjoyable music, with many instrumental tracks. He brought diversity to the Renaissance. When he made music he matched an instrument with it's people's personality. For example, if the lady in the song was sweet, Henry used a soft keyboard sound.
Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian writer and politician. He wrote The Prince which was a short story written in 1513. The story guided rulers on how they should rule. He sometimes thought rulers should be ruthless if they want to get something done. I picked Machiavelli because I like how in his theories he focused on “here and now”. I also chose Machiavelli because he wrote something that was helpful, but very controversial. Sometimes it's good to have things to debate against!
Nicolaus Copernicus was a European astronomer. He discovered heliocentric
theory. This theory means the Earth revolves around the Sun. He wrote the book
De
revolutionibus orbium coelestium.
He was born
February 19,
1473. He spent his childhood and lived in Poland. Others had discovered that the
Earth revolved around the sun before Copernicus, but he discovered that the sun
is the middle of the universe. I chose Copernicus because he discovered one of
the most important theory’s in the history of western science. I also chose him
because he thought out of the box and was very open minded to new ideas.
How the Renaissance affects us.
The Renaissance is important to us today because we have learned many new things from the people who took part in this time period. For example, Niccolo Machiavelli has helped many of our modern day leaders rule effectively. We also learned perspective and how it can change a picture, and make it look life-like. Leonardo taught us how to put feeling into art through his Mona Lisa; and thanks to many of his sketches we’ve learned how to build planes and other objects we daily depend on. If it wasn’t for Petrarch’s ideas we would never have a great education, that we have today. Also let us not forget Michelangelo; he gave us beautiful art that we can understand Jesus from. His painting that covers the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel reaches into our hearts, and we learn a deeper meaning of life through art. The printing press, made by Johann Gutenberg, advanced our way of printing papers. The printing press was made out if a frame and movable blocks. The Renaissance has influenced us through their artists and writers too. We learned perspective, and different ways on how to paint people from the Renaissance. Our leaders also learned from Machiavelli writing and many others.
CDRom Textbook: World History Medieval to Early Modern Times, Student Edition, Stanley M. Burstein,Orlando,Holt, Rinehart and Winston,2006
-Burstein, Stanley M.. World History Medieval to Early Modern Times. student Edition. Orlando: holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2006.
Virtual Renaissance Awesome site – Full of information http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Renaissance/VirtualRen.html
-Bonnie Panagakis, Chris Marszalek, Linda Mazanek , "Luigi's Lecture Hall." Virtual Renaissance. 20 August 2004 . 30 Apr 2007 < http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Renaissance/VirtualRen.html>.
Inventions and Technology http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Renaissance/University/Inventions/Inventions.html
-The VirRen Team , C.S.Marszalek & B.Panagakis . "Good Morrow and Welcome." inventions and Technology. 22 May 2006. 30 Apr 2007 <http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Renaissance/University/Inventions/Inventions.html>.
King Henry VIII http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Henry-VIII-kingofengland_1491-1547.jpg
-"King Henry VIII." Wikipedia. 27 Apr 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Henry-VIII-kingofengland_1491-1547.jpg>.
Leonardo da Vinci http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_vinci
-"Leonardo da Vinci." Wikipedia. 27 Apr 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_vinci>.
