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The Italian Renaissance (1380s-1550s) was one of the most exciting periods in human civilisationcivilization. It witnessed a great flourishing of the arts, literature, philosophy, architecture , and politics. Many of the greatest figures in World Civilisation appeared during the Renaissance in Italy, including Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Machiavelli , and Raphael. The Renaissance’s days of glories occurred from approximately 1400-1500. However, several factors led to the end of the Renaissance and the end of one of the most creative periods in human history.

====What was the Renaissance?====The term "Renaissance" or "rebirth" (or "''rinascita''" in Italian) was coined by Giorgio Vasari around 1550 in his book <i>The Lives of the Artists</i>. The Renaissancestarted in the late 15th century as Italians sought to imitate the lost world of ancient Greece and Rome and move away from gothic art. The Italian, artists, writers, and thinkers who all participated in the Renaissance, sought to create works that were the equal of the ancients, whom they regarded as the pinnacle of civilization.<ref>Burke, Peter. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691162409/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691162409&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3e8ba646ddb55793983df78fb425f39e The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy]'' (Princeton University Press, 1999), p. 6.</ref> The Renaissance, unlike the Middle Ages, stressed the individual, reason, beauty and secular values. This outlook became known as Humanism and has had a profound impact on European society. The Renaissance not only produced great works of art but also resulted in a dramatic change in the views of Europeans and a decisive move away from the world of the Middle Ages. The Renaissance was in many ways to lay the groundwork for the rise of the modern world and especially ‘individualism and a secular outlook.’<ref>Burke, p.9.</ref> The Renaissance was able to occur because of the unique conditions that prevailed in Italy in the period from 1400 to 1500.

The term means ‘re-birth’. The renaissance country was an effort to imitate rich, because of [[How did the lost world of ancient Greece Silk Road develop?|trade]] and Rome. The Italian, artists, writers industry and thinkers who all participated in the Renaissance, sought to create works this meant that many wealthy Italians were the equal willing to act as patrons of the ancients, whom they regarded as the pinnacle great artists. The Italian Peninsula was divided among a series of civilisationcity-states.<ref>BurkeRuggiero, PeterGuido. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/06911624090521719380/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=06911624090521719380&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=3e8ba646ddb55793983df78fb425f39e 90629fdde8856871bdd69f392194f543 The Italian Renaissancein Italy: Culture A Social and Society in ItalyCultural History of the Rinascimento]'' (Princeton Cambridge University Press, 19992015), p. 6648.</ref> The Renaissance unlike the Middle AgesThese were Republics and they were tolerant societies, stressed that placed a high value on creativity in the individual, reason, beauty arts and secular valuesthough. This outlook became known as Humanism and has had a profound impact on European societyThey were unique societies in Europe of the time. The Renaissance not only produced great works Crucially, the influence of art but also resulted the church was limited in dramatic change these city-states and there was generally [[What were the social factors that led to the Renaissance in the views Italy?|freedom of Europeans thought and a decisive move away from the world expression]]. Indeed, many prominent Churchmen were active patrons of the Middle Ages. The Renaissance artists, including [[What was in many ways to lay the groundwork for role of the rise of Popes in the modern world and especially ‘individualism and a secular outlookRenaissance?|Popes]].’<ref>BurkeRuggiero, p.978.</ref> The Renaissance was able to occur because of the unique conditions that prevailed in Italy in the period from 1400 to 1500.

The country was rich, because of trade and industry and this meant that many wealthy Italians were willing to act as patrons of great artists. The Italian Peninsula was divided among a series of city-states.<ref>Ruggiero, Guido. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521719380/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASINWhen did the Italian Renaissance End?=0521719380&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=90629fdde8856871bdd69f392194f543 The Defining when the Italian Renaissance in Italy: A Social and Cultural History of occurred is somewhat difficult, but the most generous estimate goes from the 1380s to the Rinascimento]'' (Cambridge University Press, 2015), p1550s. 648.</ref> These were Republics and they were tolerant societiesTypically, that placed a high value on creativity in the arts Italian Renaissance has been tied to fortunes of Florence and thoughRome (especially Florence). They were unique societies in At the Europe end of the time. Crucially14th century, after the influence collapse of the church was limited in these cityFlorentine and Roman economies due to the Great Famine of 13150-states 1317 caused by the Little Ice Age, the disruption of trade by war between England and there was generally freedom France, and the devastation of thought the Black Plague, Rome and expressionFlorence began to rebound. Indeed, many prominent Churchmen were active patrons of These catastrophes actually helped start the Renaissance because it was initially driven by artists, including Popes.<ref>Ruggiero, p. 78such as Petrarch and Dante who began to question the authority of the Church because it had failed to alleviate the suffering of Italians during these catastrophes.</ref>

==Economic Decline==[[File:Leonardo.jpg|thumbnail|Leonardo da Vinci|200px]]Until 1500 Italy was at the centre The end of the Mediterranean world Italian is directly tied to Florence's decline and its vast network the eventual abandonment of trade routes. Italian traders made vast profits by acting as middlemen in the trade between ideals of the Muslim and Christian worldsRenaissance. Furthermore, This slow slide began with [[What was the Italian clothing industry exported its goods all over impact of Charles VIIIs invasion of Italy (1494) on the Mediterranean <ref>Ruggiero, p. 134.</ref>.The riches made enabled Renaissance?|the elite to fund the work invasion of great artists such Florence in 1494]] by France and gained speed as Leonardo da Vinci and RaphaelItaly broke out into warfare between its city-states. HoweverAdditionally, after Columbus discovered Americalike most significant political and intellectual movements, the Mediterranean economy went into Renaissance gave birth to a steep decline significant intellectual and religious backlash. New trade routes were established in By the Atlantic and 1550s, many of the trade works of literature and art that help birth the Mediterranean dropped offRenaissance were banned. This led to less money being spent on art in Italy.<ref>LopezBy the mid-1550s, Robert Sabatino, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316532002/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316532002&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d7834ce1e2ccb139a585310f8f29d767 The Three Ages of the Italian Renaissance]'' (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1970), pwas essentially over. 89.</ref> Although, While the Pope’s still continued to be great patrons of the arts. The relative decline Italian Renaissance died in the Italian economyFlorence and Rome, because of changing trade routesits ideas, because of the Discovery of Americabeliefs, led to less money being spent on the arts and educationart had spread across Europe. This had a negative impact on the Renaissance These other European Renaissances continued even as Florence's and fewer great works of art and literature.<ref>Lopez, p. 98Rome's rebirth ended.</ref>

==Spanish Domination==Florence's Economic Decline====[[File:Leonardo.jpg|thumbnail|Leonardo da Vinci|200px|left]]Until 1500 Italy was at the centre of the Mediterranean world and its vast network of trade routes. Italian traders made vast profits by acting as middlemen in the trade between the Muslim and Christian worlds. Furthermore, the Italian clothing industry exported its goods all over the Mediterranean.<ref>Ruggiero, p. 134.</ref> The riches made enabled the elite to fund the work of great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. However, after Columbus discovered America, the Mediterranean economy went into a steep decline. New trade routes were established in the Atlantic and the trade of the Mediterranean dropped off. This led to less money being spent on art in Italy.<ref>Lopez, Robert Sabatino, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316532002/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316532002&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d7834ce1e2ccb139a585310f8f29d767 The Three Ages of the Italian Renaissance]'' (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1970), p. 89.</ref>

The Italian city-states were very rich but also vulnerable to their larger neighbours. The kingdoms of Europe were becoming national states, with a unified government and standing armies. By the 16th centuryAlthough, the Italian city-states looked much weaker that large kingdoms such as France. In the 1490s, the French invaded [[What was Pope Julius IIs contribution to Renaissance Italy, in order ?|Popes]] still continued to conquer be great patrons of the kingdom of Naplesarts. The Spanish Monarchy refused to allow relative decline in the French to dominate southern Italy <ref>LopezItalian economy, p. 67.</ref>. The French army eventually retreated from the Kingdom because of Naples after a plague decimated the army. Howeverchanging trade routes, their invasion was to result in several decades because of war, between France and Spain, for the control Discovery of first Naples and later Italy. Over the following decadesAmerica, Italy became a battleground for led to less money being spent on the first time in centuries.<ref>Lopez, 112arts and education.</ref> This was to have had a negative impact on the Renaissance. In 1527, the Spanish army sacked Rome and caused widespread loss fewer great works of life art and devastationliterature. Eventually<ref>Lopez, the Spanish, under Phillip II, established Spanish domination in Italyp. The Italian city-states were still technically independent, but they were under de-facto Spanish control. The Spanish control resulted in a loss of political and individual freedom and this dealt a blow to the Renaissance as increasingly artists and thinkers were unable to create the worked they wanted or to freely express their own ideas and opinions98.</ref>

==Counter-Reformation==[[File:Sackofrome.jpeg|thumbnail|390px|left|Sack The Rise of Rome by Johannes Lingelbach|370px]]Spain====The Reformation began in Germany and soon Protestant Churches Italian city-states were being established throughout Northern Europevery rich but also vulnerable to their larger neighbors. This cause a crisis in the Catholic Church in Italy and throughout The kingdoms of Europe. Many feared that Italy would even turn Protestant. This caused were becoming national states, with a change in direction in the Catholic Church unified government and led it to change its direction standing armies. In response to By the Protestant Reformation16th century, the Catholic Church engaged in a series of reforms and other measures. These sought to make sure Italian city-states looked much weaker that Protestant teachings did not become popular. The response of the Catholic Church became known large kingdoms such as the Counter-ReformationFrance. One of In the most important aspects of the Counter-Reformation 1490s, [[What was the increasing role impact of the Inquisition in Italian Society. Any person, believed to be sympathetic to Protestant ideas was arrested as a heretic by the Inquisition. The Inquisition also arrested those who have opinions and views that were contrary to the teachings Charles VIIIs invasion of the Church. <ref>Mullett, Michael A., ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415189152/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415189152&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2cee7968947f72dfe9e1cea5b8eafa6e The Catholic Reformation]'' Italy (Routledge, London 19991494)p. 56.</ref> The Counter-Reformation was to have a dramatic impact on artists, writers and scientists’ in the Renaissance?|the French invaded Italy. No longer could they discuss or express their views freely. They were afraid to create any daring works]], in case that they offended the Catholic Church. In order to ensure that they did not come to conquer the attention kingdom of the Inquisition, they made sure that their works were suitably CatholicNaples. The result of Spanish Monarchy refused to allow the Counter-Reformation was that Italian artists worked in an environment that was repressive . This led French to dominate southern Italy, falling behind the rest of Europe, intellectually and artistically . It should still be remembered that Italy still produced great artists and thinkers such as Galileo, but they were far fewer and less original. The old humanist tradition, of the Renaissance, was abandoned, during the Counter-Reformation <ref>MulletLopez, p. 14167.</ref> ==Conclusion==The Renaissance was one French army eventually retreated from the Kingdom of the most important historical epochs, it produced Naples after a culture that created great works of art and provided the world, with plague decimated the humanist view of life, which encouraged individualism and the use of reasonarmy. However, economic decline meant that there their invasion was less money for the arts and learning. The Spanish came to dominate the city-states and this meant that artists had less freedom result in several decades of expression. Finallywar, the Counter-Reformation by enforcing Catholic Orthodoxy meant that artists, thinkers between France and writers were afraid to be as daring or original as they had been in the past.<ref>MulletSpain, p. 134.</ref> These factors led to for the end control of the Renaissancefirst Naples and later Italy. ==References==<references/>

Over the following decades, Italy became a battleground for the first time in centuries.<ref>Lopez, 112.</ref> This was to have a negative impact on the Renaissance. In 1527, the [[Did the Sack of Rome in 1527 end the Renaissance in Italy?|Spanish army sacked Rome]] and caused widespread loss of life and devastation. Eventually, the Spanish, under Phillip II, established Spanish domination in Italy. The Italian city-states were still technically independent, but they were under de-facto Spanish control. The Spanish control resulted in a loss of political and individual freedom and this dealt a blow to the Renaissance as increasingly artists and thinkers were unable to create the worked they wanted or to freely express their own ideas and opinions.<div class="portal" style="'float:right; width:8535%;"'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====

The Counter-Reformation was to have a dramatic impact on artists, writers, and scientists’ in Italy. No longer could they discuss or express their views freely. They were afraid to create any daring works, in case they offended the Catholic Church. [[How did Savonarola influence the Reformation and Counter-Reformation?|Girolamo Savonarola]] rose to power in Florence and ruled between 1494-1498. He sought to reverse the influence of secularism and ruled Florence as began its economic and cultural decline. Rulers such as Savonarola forced artists to recommit to the church to avoid attracting the attention of the Inquisition. The threat of the Inquisition ensured that artists and writers tailored their works to be more suitably Catholic. The result of the Counter-Reformation was that Italian artists worked in an environment that was repressive. This led to Italy, falling behind the rest of Europe, intellectually and artistically. It should still be remembered that Italy still produced great artists and thinkers such as Galileo, but they were far fewer and less original. The old humanist tradition, of the Renaissance, was abandoned, during the Counter-Reformation.<ref>Mullet, p. 141.</ref> ====Conclusion====The Renaissance was one of the most important historical epochs, it produced a culture that created great works of art and provided the world, with the humanist view of life, which encouraged individualism and the use of reason. However, economic decline meant that there was less money for the arts and learning. The Spanish came to dominate the city-states and this meant that artists had less freedom of expression. Finally, the Counter-Reformation by enforcing Catholic Orthodoxy meant that artists, thinkers and writers were afraid to be as daring or original as they had been in the past.<ref>Mullet, p. 134.</ref> These factors led to the end of the Renaissance.{{MediawikiMediaWiki:Renaissance HistoryAmNative}}====References====<references/>