1. The Renaissance and Reform
Section 1: The Renaissance in Italy
Witness History Audio: An Artist Becomes a Biographer
What Was the Renaissance?
The Renaissance was a time when creative thinking and new technology helped people to more accurately understand their world. Renaissance thinkers explored new worlds and reexamined old ones. Humanists based their studies on the classical cultures of Greece and Rome.
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “Why was Vasari’s book so important?” (It gave firsthand information about Renaissance artists from a knowledgeable source.)
When showing Color Transparency 77, use the lesson suggested in the transparency book to guide discussion.
When showing Color Transparency 81, ask students to choose a geographic area that could be considered a crossroads of trade today. Have them write a paragraph explaining their choice.
Color Transparency 77: A Renaissance Sculpture
1 of 9

2. The Renaissance and Reform
Section 1: The Renaissance in Italy
Italy: The Cradle of the Renaissance
The Renaissance started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. The Roman Catholic Church and merchants who had grown rich from trade financed the creation of works of art.
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “Why was Vasari’s book so important?” (It gave firsthand information about Renaissance artists from a knowledgeable source.)
When showing Color Transparency 77, use the lesson suggested in the transparency book to guide discussion.
When showing Color Transparency 81, ask students to choose a geographic area that could be considered a crossroads of trade today. Have them write a paragraph explaining their choice.
Color Transparency 81: Venice as a Center of Trade
Geography Interactive: Political Europe About 1500
2 of 9

3. The Renaissance and Reform
Section 1: The Renaissance in Italy
Renaissance Art and Artists Flower
While Renaissance artists often based their paintings on religious themes, they also created portraits of well-known people in their communities. Painters and sculptors returned to realism in their work and used perspective to show depth. Leonardo da Vinci painted with astonishing realism and also created sketches in his notebooks that show his gift for invention.
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “Why was Vasari’s book so important?” (It gave firsthand information about Renaissance artists from a knowledgeable source.)
When showing Color Transparency 77, use the lesson suggested in the transparency book to guide discussion.
When showing Color Transparency 81, ask students to choose a geographic area that could be considered a crossroads of trade today. Have them write a paragraph explaining their choice.
Color Transparency 79: School of Athens
History Interactive: The Discovery of Perspective
3 of 9

4. The Renaissance and Reform
Section 1: The Renaissance in Italy
Writing for a New Society
Literature, too, reflected the humanist point of view. Some writers produced guide books, such as Baldassare Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier and Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince.
Witness History Video: Machiavelli’s The Prince
Witness History Audio: Leonardo DaVinci
Notes: Listen to the Witness History audio. Then read aloud the main idea for each subheading in this section and show the related visuals.
After listening to the Witness History audio, ask, “Why was Vasari’s book so important?” (It gave firsthand information about Renaissance artists from a knowledgeable source.)
When showing Color Transparency 77, use the lesson suggested in the transparency book to guide discussion.
When showing Color Transparency 81, ask students to choose a geographic area that could be considered a crossroads of trade today. Have them write a paragraph explaining their choice.
Note Taking Transparency 101
QuickTake Section Quiz
Progress Monitoring Transparency
4 of 9

5. The Renaissance and Reform: Section 1
Color Transparency 77: A Renaissance Sculpture
5 of 9

6. The Renaissance and Reform: Section 1
Color Transparency 81: Venice as a Center of Trade
6 of 9

7. The Renaissance and Reform: Section 1
Color Transparency 79: School of Athens
7 of 9

8. The Renaissance and Reform: Section 1
Note Taking Transparency 101
8 of 9

9. The Renaissance and Reform: Section 1
Progress Monitoring Transparency
9 of 9