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The Italian Renaissance was a time of massive cultural, scientific and artistic development. This period saw the rise of many important and significant individuals, whose influence impacted not only the era of their lives, but has continued to shape the way we think, understand and appreciate the world around us today. The individuals and groups that we will explore here are a small sample of this great pool of influential people. Use the information and links below as starting points for further research and development of your group project. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most recognisable figures of the Italian Renaissance. He was a prolific painter, scientist, anatomist, engineer and inventor, and Leonardo incorporated his artistic expression into his other varied interests. Leonardo is known as the quintessential Renaissance Man. This ideal, developed during the Italian Renaissance, was given voice by Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72), who stated that “a man can do all things if he will.” This expresses the notion that humans are limitless in their capacity to grow and create, and that people should access all areas of their potential (2015 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc). For an interactive learning experience, visit 'Exploring Leonardo' to discover more about this famous man, his interests, ideas and achievements. Here you will find a thorough biography and complete gallery of Leonardo's works. The House of Borgia 'St Catherine's Disputation', fresco (1492-1494), by Pinturicchio an Italian Renaissance artist. This fresco occupies the rear wall of the 'Hall of the Saints' in The Borgia Apartments in Vatican City. It is suggested that the likenesses of members of the Borgia family are used within the painting. (Image via Wikimedia Commons) The Borgias, a notable Renaissance family, are infamous for the intrigue that surrounded them and the treachery and ruthlessness that has characterised their history. It is important to first decipher the facts, and only once you have built a picture for yourself then explore your own opinion as to their infamy. For your summary give a general overview of the family and choose 1-2 of the members to describe in more detail. For an overview of the family read this, and to place the Borgias within their greater historical context look here. For details on individual members of the family: Alfons Borgia Cesare Borgia Lucrezia Borgia Rodrigo Borgia Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei is renowned as an astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher and mathematician during the Italian Renaissance. He is considered the ‘father of modern science’ and his contributions and discoveries have had a lasting impact. To learn more about this historic man, his trials and triumphs, read this. For an audio/visual history of Galileo in a 'nutshell', watch this. Niccolò Machiavelli Niccolò Machiavelli was a Florentine politician, writer and philosopher during the Italian Renaissance. He is known as a founder of political science and ethics as we know it today. Machiavelli was a heavily involved in the political scene in Florence, holding different official roles. Later in his life he wrote 'The Prince' which emphasised the importance of a strong, harsh and unscrupulous leader, a style that would come to be termed 'Machiavellian'.
For a brief overview of Niccolò Machiavelli and his major roles and achievements, watch this. Read this, for a more detailed biography of Machiavelli and his works, including 'The Prince'. While the era of the Italian Renaissance saw great cultural and ideological achievements and developments, we will begin our exploration of the period by investigating the day-to-day lives of the aristocracy, merchants and artisans of Florence and other cities that were swept up in the cultural rebirth of the Renaissance. As a general introduction to the topic begin with a visit here. You might also like to take a look at this video for an overview of the Renaissance. The areas we will explore in greater depth are: Food; Marriage; and Social Culture. Please explore the links below and conduct your own independent research within your groups. Utilise this information to help you develop your letter to a friend/family member during the Renaissance. Remember to first determine details such as your particular roles and responsibilities within the larger society. For the following class, please post your Renaissance letters in the comments section below. Once you have developed and posted your own letter, please read those of your classmates and reply with thoughtful responses to the ideas they have presented. Food in Renaissance Italy We can learn a lot about people by looking through their pantry, and the same applies for historical societies and cultures. In this section we will look at the food that formed the diet, in domestic and social settings, of Renaissance Italians. Here you can learn about the cookery and food of the Renaissance as well as information about feasts and the availability of foods. To learn about culinary discoveries of the 16th Century, the Spice Trade and the role of religion in food read this. Marriage in Renaissance Italy Weddings form a significant social phenomenon across cultures and across time. The way people marry, and the roles they develop within their marriages can provide a window into many of the social customs and norms of the period. Investigating marriage in the era of the Renaissance in Italy also provides us with information regarding the nature of roles and relationships between men and women, both within the domestic sphere and beyond. To learn about the role of marriage in forming political alliances and the importance of a dowry, read this. Here you will learn about all the customs and ceremonial requirements of traditional weddings. Social Culture in Renaissance Italy The division of social classes into distinct groups and the emergence of a new banking elite were important aspects of the socioeconomic structure of Renaissance Italy. The gap between lower and upper classes was large, and the standard of living and routines of daily life were similarly disparate.
For a brief overview of the social classes read this. Here you will find a more in depth discussion of the emergence of a new elite and the use of slavery. Welcome to our class blog 'THE RENAISSANCE FAIR'! This is an exciting space for us to share our ideas and our learning. Each post will relate to material we cover in class, and will be a tool for you to use both in class and at home.
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