Renaissance Era 1250 – 1600 Background Information

Daily Life Roads linked cities In cities roads were paved by 16 th century Travel unsafe, especially alone Bandits constant threat on roads Cities walled, gates controlled who entered and left Cities very dirty Size of house was based on wealth Many times the owner of a shop lived there The Black Death spread in Europe during this era.

Government Countries were broken up into city-states, with own rules and leaders Some together to form gov’t units ‘Merchant Princes’ developed because of trade Exploration of New World brought new wealth Wars fought

Religion Every community had a church and daily attended Churches were community centers Priests were in charge of the school Girls began to be educated, but after the boys and depended on family wealth Faith greatly influenced art

Social Studies, Science and Math 1332 – playing cards invented 1400 – guns, armor, eye glasses invented 1451 – first newspapers 1489 – plus and minus signs come into use 1492 – Columbus discovered America 1517 – coffee 1520 – Magellan circomnavigates the world 1530 – microscope invented 1540 – first artificial limbs used 1565 – first pencil

Music 1400 – piano invented 1465 – first printed music in Europe Musicians travelled a lot Madrigals were the music of the time A lot of music was religious

Art Religious themes Rich nobleman commissioned work Portraits painted

Miscellaneous Shakespeare most well known playwright of the time Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ People of this era had wide interests and were experts n may different areas Da Vinci is a prime example of a renaissance man