Renaissance art, literature, as proof of European survival of the Plague. Chinese recovery after Mongols- proof: Zheng He, Trade Empire, Ming. Europeans take to the waves!

1.  Eurasia recovered from the
Plague
 China recovered from the
Plague & Mongols
Janet Pareja – Signature School - 2015

2. Route of the Bubonic PlagueRoute of the Bubonic Plague
What areas were not affected by the Black Plague?
WHY do you think that was?

3. Bubonic PlagueBubonic Plague
• Began in Asia – possiblyBegan in Asia – possibly
Gobi DesertGobi Desert
• Intermittently from 1331 toIntermittently from 1331 to
late 17late 17thth
c.c.
• Mortality Rate:Mortality Rate: 60-70%60-70% inin
China,China, 30-50%30-50% West ofWest of
therethere
• Areas NOT affected:Areas NOT affected:
India, Scandinavia, Sub-India, Scandinavia, Sub-
Saharan AfricaSaharan Africa

5. Jews, disabled, and otherwise “undesirable” peopleJews, disabled, and otherwise “undesirable” people
blamed for the plagueblamed for the plague

6. Disruption of Societies &Disruption of Societies &
EconomiesEconomies
• Massive Labor
shortages
• Urban workers demanded
higher wages
• Left home for better
situations
• Government tried to make
people stay where they
were / reinstate feudalism
• Revolts throughout
countryside & cities

7. Europe Recovered from theEurope Recovered from the
Plague…Plague…
Statebuilding
• Taxes & AdministrativeTaxes & Administrative
StructureStructure as instruments
of national monarchies
• Fragmented & Competitive 
MORE WARS!!
– Frequent small scale wars
Hundred Years War-BIG!
– New military & naval technology
– Standing European armies

8. Recovery in Western EuropeRecovery in Western EuropeProof:Proof:
The RenaissanceThe Renaissance: 1400-1600
• Began in Florence, spread to other Northern Italian City
States… then West. Cultural Blossoming!!Cultural Blossoming!!
• BUSINESSMENBUSINESSMEN in these City States
sponsored innovations in art & architecture
• A whole new age:A whole new age:
– Not ruled by ChurchNot ruled by Church
– Not ruled by FEUDALISMNot ruled by FEUDALISM
Florence
Siena – Palazzo
Publico
Genoa

9. Santa Maria del Fiore
Cathedral, Florence
Baptistry, Florence
FlorenceFlorence
Brunelleschi’s Dome on
Cathedral of Florence
David - Michelangelo

10. View of an Ideal City,
Pierro della Francesca
linear PersPectivelinear PersPective

11. Humani s m= Man i sHumani s m= Man i s
t het he
Meas ure of Al lMeas ure of Al l
Thi ngsThi ngs
•Idealization of the Human Mind & BodyIdealization of the Human Mind & Body as
perfect creations of God!
•REALISM!REALISM! “Parla!”
•Religious themesReligious themes – especially the Virgin, Bible scenes
•Classical ThemesClassical Themes – Mythology, History
•Primary SourcesPrimary Sources consulted – many from the Arabic
•Nature themesNature themes – reflected new interest in the why’s
and how’s of nature

12. Citizens of a City!
People identified themselves as

14. Lorenzo
The
Magnificen
t
Lorenzo’s Dad
Elder
Cosimo
Mirandola
Boticelli
Medici
Bro
Medici
Bro

16. Giotto d. 1337

17. BotticelliBotticelli

18. Boticelli

19. Leonardo Da Vinci

21. La Giaconda

22. Michelangelo

25. Natural poses, lifelike bodies.

26. The sense of moral
power and tense
energy is conveyed
not only through
the anatomy, but
through the
concentrated gaze
of the Biblical hero.

27. Michelangelo

30. RaphaelRaphael

31. “Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and Wife” by Dutch painter Jan van Eyck, (1434).

32. PetrarchPetrarch
Father of Humanism
Father of Italian (Florentine) Language
Sonnets– admired & imitated
throughout Europe
Coined term “Dark Ages”
Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri
““Divine ComedyDivine Comedy””
– considered the greatest literary work
composed in the Italian language, and
a masterpiece of world literature
– Social commentary - Florence

33. • Florentine, wrote poetrypoetry
and romancesand romances,, then
became a diplomat.
• Masterpiece called the
DecameronDecameron, set in the
time of the black death.
• DialogueDialogue master.

34. • Florentine diplomat, political philosopher, musician,
poet, playwright – an Italian Renaissance ManItalian Renaissance Man and
a servant of the Florentine Republic.
• Cynical (realist) approach toCynical (realist) approach to
powerpower in The Prince, the Discourses, and the
History.
• Synonymous with ruthless politics, deceit and
the pursuit of power by any means:
““It is better to be feared thanIt is better to be feared than
to be loved, if one cannot beto be loved, if one cannot be
both.”both.”

35. • Spanish author of DonDon
Quixote de la ManchaQuixote de la Mancha.
• The two main characters
of this classic are Don
Quixote and Sancho
Panza

36. • English
• Author of 37 plays, many
sonnets.
– Great imagery, vocabulary,
imagination
– Comedies, histories, tragedies,
and romances.
• Greatest works: Taming of the
Shrew, Romeo and Juliet,
Macbeth, and Julius Caesar.

38. Trial of Galileo,Trial of Galileo,
16331633

39. Florentine Wealth

40. Bonfire of the VanitiesBonfire of the Vanities
• 1497 – Dominican1497 – Dominican priest Girolamopriest Girolamo
SavonarolaSavonarola
• Part of FlorentinePart of Florentine Shrove TuesdayShrove Tuesday
observance.observance.
• CollectedCollected and publicly burned thousands ofand publicly burned thousands of
objectsobjects deemed to be “occasions of sin ofdeemed to be “occasions of sin of
vanity.”vanity.”
– cosmeticscosmetics, mirrors, fine dresses, hair, mirrors, fine dresses, hair
ornaments, jewelryornaments, jewelry
– Secular art – paintingsSecular art – paintings, sculpture, sculpture
– Musical instruments,Musical instruments, playing cards,playing cards,
– Books that were deemed toBooks that were deemed to be “immoral”be “immoral”
such as poetry, secularsuch as poetry, secular songs, romancessongs, romances
and other works of non-religiousand other works of non-religious themes.themes.

41. Recovering from the Plague,
Europe was blossoming, finally…
As West finally began to meet
East… what about China?

42. Ming DynastyMing Dynasty
Reviving Chinese Traditions after theReviving Chinese Traditions after the
Departure of the Mongols:Departure of the Mongols:
• Centralization of Government: Direct RuleCentralization of Government: Direct Rule
of Emperorof Emperor
• Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven
• Ethnically HanEthnically Han
• Confucian education
– Civil Service Exam
–Mandarins &
Eunuchs

43. Ming Dynasty
• Promoted Economic
Recovery: Trade
flourished
– Repaired irrigation systems 
Ag productivityAg productivity surged
– EEfficient ManufactureManufacture ofof
silk, porcelain, cottonsilk, porcelain, cotton

44. CulturalCultural
RevivalRevival
– Actively promoted
Neo-ConfucianismNeo-Confucianism
–YongleYongle
EncyclopediaEncyclopedia
anthology of Chinese
cultural traditions

45. ““Chinese Reconnaissance of theChinese Reconnaissance of the
Indian Ocean Basin”Indian Ocean Basin”
• Control of sea trade in IndianControl of sea trade in Indian
Ocean & Spice IslandsOcean & Spice Islands
• Threats to China?Threats to China?
–NO Military RivalsNO Military Rivals
–Stop PiracyStop Piracy
• Inspire Awe!Inspire Awe!
• Re-Activate Tributary SystemRe-Activate Tributary System

46. Admiral Zheng HeAdmiral Zheng He

49. Treasure Ships
• 450 ft. long x 180 ft. wide
• 9 masts, 4 decks w/
public & private rooms,
restrooms!
• 500 – 1000 passengers
• 62 treasure ships, 240 smaller ships

50. “Walked like a tiger”
Did not hesitate to use Chinese
Manpower & Military Might:
– Eradicated piratesEradicated pirates in SE Asian
waters
– Civil disturbance – Ceylon
– Local wars
– Threats to fleet off coast of
Arabia, Africa
– Relocated MuslimsRelocated Muslims toto Malakka &Malakka &
IndonesiaIndonesia, granaries, mosques,
warehouses and a stockade

51. End of Voyages, 1433End of Voyages, 1433
• Confucian ministers
distrusted foreign alliances
– Barbarians, Muslims
• Trade items did not match
China’s luxuries
– Flowers, fruit, zebra, giraffe
• Use treasury to support
Agriculture, Defense
instead.
• China closed to outside
trade; resources re-
directed…

52. End of Voyages, 1433End of Voyages, 1433
• Technology forgotten
• Ships left to rot in harbor
• Nautical charts destroyed

53. China Turned her Face
Inward
…As Europe Took to the
Waves

54. Key Moments in European
Maritime Travel
1415
1420
1430’s
14331433
1480’s1480’s
1480’s1480’s
14921492
14961496
1497-981497-98
1520-231520-23
Portuguese seize Ceuta in Morocco
Portuguese explore West Coast of Africa
Portuguese in the Azore Islands off coast of Africa
Chinese fleets withdraw from Indian OceanChinese fleets withdraw from Indian Ocean
Portuguese contact with Kongo; royal family converts to
Christianity
Sugar production begins in Canary Islands
First Transatlantic voyage of ColumbusFirst Transatlantic voyage of Columbus
John Cabot enters Indian Ocean, reaches IndiaJohn Cabot enters Indian Ocean, reaches India
Vasco da Gama enters Indian Ocean, reaches IndiaVasco da Gama enters Indian Ocean, reaches India
Magellan’s Voyage to Asia via the Americas; firstMagellan’s Voyage to Asia via the Americas; first
circumnavigation of the golbecircumnavigation of the golbe

55. European Exploration
Portuguese – 1st
– Expand Christianity
– Expand commercial
opportunities
Why?
– Already Sea farers
– Good relations with Muslims
– Poor country compared…
Henry the NavigatorHenry the Navigator
– His passion
– Schools
– Invested

56. Colonization of Atlantic Islands
• Portugal seized Ceuta,
Morocco
• Colonized Madeiras,
Azores, etc.
• Italian investors,
Portuguese landowners:
Sugarcane Plantations

57. Slave Trade
• West Coast of Africa
• Traded guns, textiles forTraded guns, textiles for
gold, slavesgold, slaves
• Thousands of slaves to
Atlantic island plantations

58. Indian Ocean Trade
• Portuguese searched for sea
route to Asian markets without
Muslim middlemen.
• Bartolomeu DiasBartolomeu Dias –
– Reached Cape of Good Hope,
entered Indian Ocean- 1488
• Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama arrived at
Calicut in 1498, returned to
Lisbon w/ huge profit

59. Portuguese Dominated Indian
Ocean Trade
• Cannons on their Ships!!Cannons on their Ships!!
• Required all ships in Indian Ocean to pay
tribute…

60. Cristoforo Colombo
• Italian from Genoa
• Italian city states, Portugal refused
• Spain agreed – 1492
• 4 voyages
And the rest, as they say, is
History….

61. FIN
Vamos al Nuevo Mundo!