How did the italian Renaissance change Europe?

Answer 1

The influence the Italian Renaissance had on Europe can fall into three very broad categories: cultural, economic, political.

Culture: The Italian Renaissance was extremely influential in the areas of scholarship, art, architecture and music. The study of Humanism was born during the Renaissance in Italy: this was a philosophy of education that looked back to the knowledge of classical Rome and Greece. It rediscovered much of the knowledge of that period and applied it to the contemporary context. Universities were founded, politicians were educated in the classics. The modern form of historical study was born during the Renaissance under Guicciardini. The impact the Renaissance had on art is well-documented, with many of the greatest masters of all time emerging in one time period (14th Century) in one city (Florence). Using Humanism, which placed humanity at the centre of all things, this art broke away from the Church-dictated art of the past and helped to shape a more secular worldview. Architecture flourished at this time also, with the cold and distant Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages that made humans feel irrelevant being replaced a warmer human-centric architecture. Each of these aspects spread forth into Europe.

Economy: The Italian Renaissance saw the foreshadowing of many modern economic institutions. Banking exploded in Florence at the beginning of the 12th century and was dominant for the next 200 years; many banking practices still in use today were established during this time. The Florentines also introduced the forerunner of the modern tax system in the 'catasto' of 1427. Renaissance Italy also foreshadowed the modern world in another way - it was an urban, unashamedly capitalist society where social status was, in part, measured by wealth. Trade lay at the heart of the Renaissance, and city-states such as Florence and Venice became virtual empires because of it. Other nations, including Spain and England, modelled aspects of their own economies on the examples set by the Italian city-states.

Politics: The urban city-states of the Italian Renaissance were the first nations to see the importance of diplomacy. Permanent, resident ambassadors were an invention of Renaissance Italy that is still vital to international relations today. People studied diplomacy, and Lorenzo de'Medici was a master of it, often called upon to mediate between warring nations. Macchiavelli's famous 'The Prince' a handbook of pragmatic politics still relevent today was written during this time. The Italian city-states were also the first nations to dismantle the medieval feudal structures that were so influential in other European states.

Answer 2

Italian Renaissance Economy

Answer 3

the Italian renaissance changed Europe that is a huge question first Italy was the trading point in Europe people were up to their necks in debt to the Italians even the most power full monarchs in Europe were in the red. after the Italians helped in the destruction of the byzantine empire the got every little bit of the trade. so when the Italians got in to their renaissance and every one was trying to do the Italian thing so it spread extremely quickly.

Answer 4

After the devastation of the Black Death in the mid-13th century, European society was left in shambles. 1/3 of labor force was gone, and the inhabitants of the towns and the priestly classes were two of the hardest-hit groups. The devastation of the towns meant that trade for a time came almost to a standstill. The defining characteristic of the Renaissance economy was the permanent population change which the plague had caused —waves of plague kept the population low for more than a century (1350-1450). (At the end of this period, Florence's population was still only a quarter of what it had been at the beginning). Until 1460, major sectors of the economy were stagnant, until sustained population growth toward the end of the 15th century revived the markets. Before this point, supply outstripped demand in both agriculture and manufactures — the foodstuffs and finished goods produced outnumbered potential consumers. The result of this was that even the poorest peasants found it easier to earn their living and keep a greater surplus than had their parents, and for a time the lot of the masses improved. Despite the frequent disease outbreaks, most people believed the quality of life had improved. Starvation was rare, and overall health improved with better diet. Cities were a source of unity and civic pride for rich and poor alike. For investors, the lowered prices for food and basic necessities meant that neither land nor cloth-making, the traditional investment sources, were attractive. Under such circumstances, consumption was more attractive than investment. The psychological atmosphere also helped encourage luxurious living. The Renaissance was marked by an increased consumer mentality even at the lowest levels of society. Production and consumption of luxuries soared — by the mid-14th century, Florence had become a silk and jewelry capital; and Venice was a fine glass capital. International trade to procure exotic spices expanded and centered on the east. There were significant differences in city life: urbanization allowed for the elevation of crafts and specialization, a much greater mix of people, and usually a much more heterogeneous community. The cities also got the runoff from the rural areas —they generally grew by migration rather than natural increase. The Italian city-states were composed of an urban area surrounded by adjoining villages which provided food for the urban population. The social distinctions in this world were different as well. In rural areas, the main distinction was ownership of land, which was generally hereditary, leaving a great gulf between the landowners and their sharecroppers; but within these two groups the gaps were not so great. In the cities, by contrast, social class was based on wealth and occupation. The cities were markets first and foremost, and the ability to participate in the markets defined the city's citizens. Each large city had its hierarchies of guilds which regulated the commercial activity of the city. By and large, members of the guild were comfortable. But the bulk of the city populace were not guild members, and lived at near subsistence levels as wage laborers or destitute poor. Up to one half of the city's population was sometimes dependent on civic and private charity for survival. The disparities between rich and poor were overwhelming, and became even more so as wealth became concentrated in ever-narrowing groups and families. The economic chaos in the immediate wake of the plague, which led to wild fluctuations in prices, helped further increase this gap. Capital, however initially accumulated, was the key to continued wealth — only those who possessed sufficient capital could engage in manufacturing or trade. Merchant families who had been able to manipulate the economic chaos during the turbulent times now were able to turn their huge hordes of wealth into political power, and dominate the city-states.

Answer 5

The Italian Renaissance was nowhere near as glorious or important as its champions have claimed. It was not even unique.

In fact, recent scholars have taken to speaking of MULTIPLE renaissances, of which "THE Renaissance" (the one beginning in Italy in the 15th century) was but one. As a matter of fact, there is a fair case to be made that the "Renaissance of the 12th century" (of the "High Middle Ages") played a MUCH more important role -- a pivotal role in advancing society, esp. in areas of STUDY (academics, founding of science).

Note that this earlier renaissance was at the time of the creation of the UNIVERSITY system, from which many of the scholarly advances began to flow as scholars from across Europe began to work together. These earlier advances (including also advances in government, technology, etc.) over several CENTURIES were the ground in which Italy's Renaissance grew.

Rodney Stark writes --
"The Italian “Renaissance” was not a “rediscovery” of classical learning. Rather, it was a period of cultural emulation during which people of fashion copied the classical style in manners, art, literature, and philosophy. Out of passion for their own ancient days of glory, explains French historian Régine Pernaud, Italians began to claim that Western history consisted of “two periods of light: antiquity and the Renaissance...and between the two...crude centuries and obscure times.” Thus, from fashionable enthusiasm and ethnic pride was born the notion of a dark age followed by a dawning of a new enlightenment. But, it wasn’t so. Scholastic scholars knew and understood the works of Plato, Aristotle, and all the rest."
http://www.taemag.com/issues/articleid.17713/article_detail.asp

For a fuller criticism of the popular view, and explanation of the role of the TWELFTH century Renaissance (as well as of the ninth century "Carolingian Renaissance"), see "The Renaissance Myth" by James Franklin (Quadrant 26 (11) (Nov. 1982), 51-60).
http://web.maths.unsw.edu.au/~jim/renaissance.html

A careful appraisal of what is claimed for the "Italian Renaissance" will show that it did NOT originate a number of the most important late medieval developments (e.g., banking, and certainly not scholarship!). These came earlier, and were what ENABLED the prosperity and cultural endeavors of 15th century Italy.


See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Renaissance#Origins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_of_the_12th_century

Answer 6

The Italian Renaissance led to an increased level of secularism (less religious fervor) in Europe. It expressed the ideals of humanism.

Answer 7

italian renaissance change europe

Answer 8

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Answer 9

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