Trecento facts for kids
The Trecento (pronounced: TREH-chen-toh) is an Italian word that means "three hundred." But when we talk about history, it refers to the 14th century in Italy, from the years 1300 to 1399. This time was a very important period for Italian culture. It was like the beginning of a big cultural change called the Renaissance, which means "rebirth."
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What Was the Trecento?
The Trecento is seen as the start of the Italian Renaissance cultural movement. Sometimes, it's even called the Proto-Renaissance, which means "early Renaissance." During this time, Italy saw many new ideas in art, writing, and music.
Art and Architecture in the Trecento
One of the most important cities for art and building during the Trecento was Florence. Florence was a powerful center for politics, money, and culture in Italy. Many famous artists and amazing buildings came from this city.
Famous Artists and Buildings
The most important artists of this period include Giotto for painting and Donatello for sculpture. The Trecento really began with the works of Giotto. Other important painters were Taddeo Gaddi, Orcagna, and Altichiero. The sculptor Nicola Pisano was also very important.
In 1334, Giotto became the main architect for the Florence Cathedral. The famous bell tower, called the "Campanile," was started by him. Even though it carries his name, it wasn't finished exactly as he designed it. Most of the famous Florence Cathedral, which is a masterpiece of architecture, was built during the Trecento.
Other important sculptors included Arnolfo di Cambio and Tino di Camaino. They were students of Giovanni Pisano. Bonino da Campione was also a well-known sculptor.
Literature and Writers
The Trecento was also a time when many great books were written. Writers started using the everyday language of the people, called the vernacular, instead of only Latin. This made books more accessible to everyone.
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio were the leading writers of this age. Dante wrote his famous book La Divina commedia, known in English as The Divine Comedy. This book summed up how people saw the world in the Middle Ages. Petrarch wrote beautiful poems in a lyrical style. His style was influenced by the poetry of the troubadours, who were medieval poets and musicians.
Music of the Trecento
In music, the Trecento was a very active time in Italy. Many talented musicians and composers created new sounds. Some of the well-known composers of the Trecento included Francesco Landini, Maestro Piero, Gherardello da Firenze, and Jacopo da Bologna. Other important names were Giovanni da Cascia, Paolo "Tenorista" da Firenze, Niccolò da Perugia, Bartolino da Padova, Antonio Zachara da Teramo, and Matteo da Perugia.
Related pages
- Burke, Peter. The Italian Renaissance: Culture and Society in Italy. Princeton University Press. Princeton, 1999.
See also
In Spanish: Trecento para niños
