SS.7.H.CL3.1Summarize origins & contributions of Italian Renaissance throughout Europe.

The Italian Renaissance began in Italy during the 14th century, lasting until the 16th century. Florence,
then the largest city in Italy, was the cultural center of Europe and where the renaissance began.
Writers, thinkers and artists were free to spend their days nurturing their craft by exploring their
country and appreciating the beauty around them. However, for most citizens life was unchanged from
the middle ages, only a select few were able to appreciate the shift towards humanism. Cultural
achievements are the pinnacle of the Italian Renaissance. Almost every type of art was furthered during
this time! Writers such as Niccolo Machiavelli and Pico were able to publish their work at a lower cost
due to the rise of printing in Europe, allowing them to reach a much larger crowd. Sculptors Giotto and
Ghiberti were able to explore new methods which were then further developed by Botticelli and
Donatello. It was during the High Renaissance that the artistic contributions people are most familiar
with occurred. Artists such as DaVinci, Michaelangelo and Raphael were active during this time. The
beginning of the end of the Renaissance came in 1494 when the French invaded Italy. War after war
ravaged Italy until 1527 brought the collapse of Rome. Foreign control, economic limitations and a
reduce in the voice of the Catholic Church effectively ended the Italian Renaissance. In 1545, the
Council of Trent brought about Roman Inquisition making the principle of humanism essentially extinct.
Renaissance:
The cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe from roughly the fourteenth through the middle of the
seventeenth centuries, based on the rediscovery of the literature of Greece and Rome.
Humanism:
a Renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in
ancient Greek and Roman thought.

Lesson Plan Resources:1. http://sse6348-renaissance.weebly.com/lesson-planprocedures.html

A two-week unit on the Italian Renaissance with printable sheets and detailed lessons.
2. http://worldhistory.mrdonn.org/renaissance.html
A variety of lessons and games based on the renaissance.
3. http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/lessonplans.html
A collection of lesson plans focusing on different stages of the renaissance.
4. http://classes.colgate.edu/s08/education/jferris/Documents/Renaissance%20Plans.pdf
Very detailed, in-depth lesson.
5. http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-italian-renaissance-and-italystransformation.html#lesson
Great video and several mini-lessons.
Technology Resources:1. http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/1400-1500-Renaissance-in-Italy-andthe-North.html
A very fun video!
2. http://www.mfa.org/collections/featured-galleries/italian-renaissance-art
Pictures of some Italian Renaissance art featured at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
3.http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/complete_projects/italian_renaissance
_ceramics.aspx
Catalog of the Italian Renaissance ceramic pieces located at the British Museum.
4. http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/r/renaissance/
Several informational articles about the Italian Renaissance.
5. http://www.louvre.fr/en/routes/italian-renaissance
A virtual "walk" through the Louvre.