The Renaissance Coach Grgurich Unit 5

Background The Renaissance occurred in the late Middle Ages, beginning in the 1400s in Italy. During this time period, Europe experienced many cultural changes and saw a return to "classical" thought, which meant a rebirth of the ideas and thoughts of the ancient Greeks. In fact, the word "renaissance" itself means _________________. During this time, there were many advances in the fields of literature, the arts, science, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, cartography (map-making), and medicine. Important people from this time period include Dante Alighieri, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo di Buonarroti Simoni, and ______________________.

Culture Art and literature were two major areas of change during the Renaissance. The invention of the _________________ gave people more access to reading materials, and literacy rose as a result. During this time, art was advanced by the use of ___________________, the invention of oil paints, and the study of the human body. Architecture also gained importance, through the re-use of domes and columns. Many artists and architects were influenced by classical styles used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Philosophy Philosophy re-emerged in the society through the development of two new ways of thinking: Humanism and Neoplatonism. __________________ can be described as an intellectual movement that focused on those areas that were considered "classic," including rhetoric, grammar, poetry, history, Latin, and Greek. These subjects became known as the _____________________.

People ________________________ was an Italian architect, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, inventor, musician, and painter. He was considered to be the best example of the "Renaissance Man" due to his extraordinary achievements and diverse talents. Da Vinci also studied the anatomy of the human body by dissecting male and female corpses of different ages and drawing what he saw. He designed many objects ahead of his time including the helicopter, tank, calculator. He also discovered the use of solar power. His most famous works include Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and The Vitruvian Man. Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet whose most famous work was The Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy was known as one of the greatest works of literature in the Middle Ages. The Divine comedy was also important in establishing the modern Italian language by increasing its use in literature. Michelangelo di Buonarroti Simoni was an Italian artist, sculptor, architect, and poet. His most famous work is the Sistine Chapel ceiling, which took four years to complete (1508-1512). Other famous works are The Last Judgment, the sculpture of David, La Pietà, and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. ___________________________ was an Italian painter who lived in Florence. His famous works include The Birth of Venus, Primavera, and the Adoration of the Magi. ____________________________was an Italian painter and architect. His famous works include Madonna del Granduca, The Small Cowper Madonna, and the The Alba Madonna.

Society   During the Renaissance, Europe's economy was mostly rural and agricultural, so land ownership was a sign of social status and a source of income. Peasants, called ____________, worked as tenant farmers, which meant they lived and worked on the fields owned by a landlord. This system was known as __________________.

Society Con’t Gradually, kingdoms that taxed their populations came to replace the feudal system. This change occurred because society was making a shift from wealth that was derived from land ownership to wealth derived from trading and small-scale manufacturing. With money becoming the new sought-after wealth, it encouraged investment, helped expand urban economic centers, and led to the rise of middle class merchants. Eventually, Europe's interest in wealth led nations to free market capitalism.

Exploration This economic shift set the foundation for the growth of mercantilism during the Age of Exploration. _________________________can be described as the idea that the wealth available in the world is limited, and one country could only get rich at the expense of another country. Governments attempted to become wealthy by controlling more land.

Science and Technology Mathematical advancements greatly accelerated the exploration of science and technology. Inventions such as ________________, the printing press, and the ______________________ also furthered science.

People Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer. He developed the theory that the sun was the center of the universe, an idea that was considered scandalous because the prevailing view was that the Earth was the center of the universe. ________________________ was an Italian physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. He invented an accurate telescope. Johannes _________________ was a German mathematician and astronomer. He is most well-known for his discovery that the planets move in orbits that are elliptical in shape. Johannes ___________________ was a German metalworker and inventor. He invented a printing press with movable type that allowed for faster printing.

Government    During the Renaissance, Italy was made up of individual city-states ruled by wealthy families. For example, in Florence, the Medici family ruled from ______________________. Other countries, however, were unified into a single nation and ruled by kings or nobility.

Government Con’t Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian writer and political philosopher who lived in Florence. His most famous work was The Prince, in which he commented on the political environment in Florence and argued that a ruler should do whatever is necessary in order to maintain control of the state.