1. Niccolo Machiavelli Wrote The Prince in which he stated that power and ruthlessness are greater than idealism. Inspired harsh treatment of citizens and rival states Separation of a person’s political and spiritual life

2. Leonardo da Vinci Ultimate renaissance man; he was a painter writer inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, musician, and philosopher

3. Michaelangelo Buonarroti Renaissance man Sculpture and painter Painted the Sistine Chapel Pieta David

4. Lorenzo de Medici Part of a wealthy and powerful family who ruled Florence and donated huge sums of money to artists, intellectuals, and musicians Helped the middle class grow A poet who supported talented artists

5. Martin Luther Started the Protestant Reformation in 1517 when he made public the complaints of the Church public Wrote the ninety- five theses and nailed then to the Church door His theses stimulated conversation betweens university intellectuals His theses were published with the new printing press and spread throughout Europe. Many people agreed to these theses and desire for reform grew. He shocked many by saying that the only head of the Christian Church is Jesus.

6. John Calvin Most important Protestant Reformer Preached the doctrine of predestination Calvinism began in Geneva, Switzerland which became a theocracy under Calvin Calvanists viewed people as sinnful by nature and had very strict laws