Lesson One

Key Question One: Creation of the Renaissance The Italian city-states have been identified as the main actors in the creation of the Renaissance. Identify three reasons why this was so and be able to explain these reasons by providing at least two points of evidence support. The Italian city-states were impelling constituents toward the conception of the Renaissance due largely to the entities competence as the core of Europes industrious infrastructure. Connecting the West to wealthier regions, the city-states became cynosures of political, economic and cultural dynamics and function. The cities possessed advanced skills in trade techniques such as navigation and shipbuilding, as well as in areas of marketing and commerce, providing advantageous positions in commercial business far superior to those of other regions in Western Europe. In addition, the citystates were quite politically charged on both macro-societal and individual scales. The cities were ruled by a combination of capable merchants and members of the aristocratic nobility, people who by nature were competent in fields of diplomacy, economics and commerce. Members of lower classes, or common people, were also engaged in the civics of their cities, investing in a share of the political and economic power. A third aspect of the city-states significance in propelling the Renaissance movement is their cultural patronage. Particularly, the affluence attained by their economic prosperity allowed the wealthy to provide financial endorsement as well as encouraging the development of secular art forms such as portraiture and more unconventionally themed works. This admiration for deviance from the artistic standards enhanced the progression of Renaissance ideals and components.

Key Question Two: Humanism Identify the main characteristics of Renaissance Humanism. The key qualitative elements of humanism in the Renaissance period revolved around emerging secular principals and developing ideals which were primarily based on the revival of Greek and Latin classical philosophies in concurrence with new ideas of existentialism and cultural or societal priorities. The artsy types from this era strongly encouraged the dialectic considerations toward the universality of classically aged ideas while stressing the importance of consciously living in the real world in addition to the pre-existing visions and hope on attaining heaven. Other predominant characteristics of Renaissance Humanism include a shift from the previous religious dominance of the previous Dark Age period and a growing appreciation for individualism. It was stressed that religious fidelity should be practiced alongside newer virtues of citizenship and concern for the dignity of others. Though Renaissance Humanism altered the dynamics of the cooperative society, one of the most significant developments of humanism was the value of individualism. This was manifested primarily in the shift among artistic creation - through an artists production in isolation and working for the society as a whole, to a culture in which artists were driven to achieve recognition and fame as well as leaving a lasting mark on history, a personal legacy.

Key Question Three: The Perfect Renaissance Gentleman List the characteristics that a perfect Renaissance Man should have according to Castiglione. According to Baldassare Castigliones A Manual for Gentlemen (1528), ideal qualities of a perfect Renaissance courtier are nobility (in both blood and mannerism), intellect and proficiency in academics (ie. He should be well-written and versed in scholastics, particularly literature and social sciences). The gentleman should also be of noble vocation and professionally skilled, as to ensure he is able to offer valuable engagement and assistance in his society. To do this, he must be accomplished in athletics particularly wrestling and dancing, social engagements, telling jokes, fighting and arts such as poetry, music, drawing and painting. To his moral elegance (his personal goodness) must be added the spiritual elegance conferred by familiarity with good literature (i.e., the humanities, including history). The courtier should excel in these areas elegantly and without apparent effort, essentially he is to appear nonchalant and make everything look easy. Above all, Castiglione asserts that the perfect Renaissance gentleman should be a man of dignity, humility and strong character, a man with a wellmeaning mind and invincible courage.

Key Question Four: Artistic Expression What were the key developments in artistic expression during the Renaissance? During the Renaissance period, one of the most prodigiously impacted aspects of culture was art and artistic expression. Motives of artistic creation were altered significantly from solitary composition to the production of work for recognition and the artists longing to be remembered. Artistic expression took on new themes and intents. Artists explored conceptualizations of existentialism, religion and their roles in the universe. With progression into the Renaissance period, artistic compositions became increasingly secular, evolving with society. It was common for affluent persons to invest in art to have their individuality immortalized. Members of nobility or corporations were painted or sculpted in portraiture deemed fit for creating a lasting record of their aristocracy and elitism. Most works in this period incorporated spiritual and religious themes, but became increasingly deviant from the conventional dogmatic representations. Art took on more secular elements, supported by the depiction of bodies in a more natural and scientific manner. Another unique characteristic of artistic expression conceived in the midst of the Renaissance period was the utilization of perspective as an elemental Artistic style.