4.1.1

Birth of the Renaissance

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The Birth of the Renaissance

‘Renaissance’ means ‘rebirth’. The Renaissance began in Italy in the 14th century.

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The beginning of the Renaissance

  • The Renaissance began in Florence during the 14th century.
  • During this period, Italy was not one unified country, but made up of small ‘city-states’. These states all had their own unique identity, for example Florence or Venice.
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Growth of the city state

  • The development of powerful city-states drove the Renaissance.
  • The rise of trade exposed Italian city-states to different cultures.
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Wealth and the arts

  • This trade also made merchants wealthier.
  • This meant they had more money to invest in culture and the arts.
  • Many merchants became patrons (meaning they gave financial support to artists).
  • The Medicis, for example, were a powerful Florentine family who patronised artists.
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Migration of Scholars

  • Following the collapse of the Constantinople in 1453, many Greek scholars migrated to Florence and neighbouring states.
  • They brought their ideas to Italy.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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