1. Guided Reading Activity 5-1
World History
Mr. Heaps

2. Question #1:
Why was the term Renaissance used to refer to the time between 1350 and 1550?
Answer:
People who lived in Italy believed they had witnessed a rebirth of the ancient Greek & Roman worlds.

3. Question #2:
What are the 3 most important characteristics of the Italian Renaissance?
Answer:
1)It was an urban society; 2)was an age of recovery from disasters such as the plague; 3)there was a new emphasis on individual ability.

4. Which 3 city-states played a crucial role in Italian politics?
Question #3:
Which 3 city-states played a crucial role in Italian politics?
Answer:
Milan, Venice, & Florence

5. How did the location of Milan help make it rich & powerful?
Question #4:
How did the location of Milan help make it rich & powerful?
Answer:
It was located at the crossroads of the main trade routes from Italian coastal cities to the Alpine Passes that led to trade with Europe.

6. Gambling, horseracing, swearing, painting, music, books
Question #5:
What activities in Florence did the Dominican preacher Savonarola seek to regulate?
Answer:
Gambling, horseracing, swearing, painting, music, books

7. Question #6:
Which two European countries made Italy their battleground for 30 years?
Answer:
France & Spain

8. Why did the army of Charles I of Spain sack the city of Rome in 1527?
Question #7:
Why did the army of Charles I of Spain sack the city of Rome in 1527?
Answer:
The army of mercenaries had not been paid for months. The commander of the army allowed them to smash the gates to Rome and loot the city.

9. What has been the impact of Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, The Prince?
Question #8:
What has been the impact of Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, The Prince?
Answer:
The Prince has been one of the most influential works on political power in the western world.

10. Question #9:
From Machiavelli’s point of view, what attitude should a prince have toward power?
Answer:
Political activity should not be restricted or controlled by moral principles. For the sake of the state he must let his conscience sleep.

11. Question #10:
What did Castiglione say were the 3 characteristics of a perfect Renaissance noble?
Answer:
A noble is born, not made
Should have military skill & a classical education
Should follow a certain standard of conduct.

12. How did Italian families have their children declared adults?
Question #11:
How did Italian families have their children declared adults?
Answer:
Their fathers went before a judge and formally freed them from his authority.