Renaissance

Renaissance

A “rebirth” of art, learning, and culture in Europe.

Greco-Roman

Ideas and culture from ancient Greece and Rome.

Mercenary

A soldier hired to fight for money.

Republic

A government where people elect leaders.

Florence

An Italian city where the Renaissance began.

Medici Family

A rich banking family who supported artists.

Rome

Center of the Catholic Church and High Renaissance.

Roman Catholic Church

The main Christian church in Europe at the time.

Pope / Papacy

The leader of the Catholic Church / the office of the pope.

Machiavelli

A writer who believed rulers should focus on power.

The Prince

Machiavelli’s book about how rulers should gain and keep power.

Patron / Patronage

A person who pays artists to create art.

Humanism

Focus on human potential and classical learning.

Petrarch

The “Father of Humanism.”

Individualism

Belief in personal importance and achievement.

Secularism

Focus on worldly life, not just religion.

Vernacular

Everyday spoken language.

Liberal arts

Subjects like history, grammar, and philosophy.

Johannes Gutenberg

Invented the printing press with movable type.

Perspective

An art technique that shows depth and distance.

Fresco

Painting done on wet plaster.

Donatello

Renaissance sculptor known for realistic figures.

Brunelleschi

Architect who designed Florence’s Duomo.

Architecture (arches/columns/domes)

Classical building features from Greece and Rome.

Leonardo da Vinci

Renaissance artist and inventor.

Raphael

Renaissance painter known for balance and beauty.

Michelangelo

Renaissance artist known for sculpture and painting.

Renaissance man

A person skilled in many subjects.

What contributed to the rise of the Italian states during the Renaissance?

Trade and banking wealth, powerful merchant families, weak feudalism, and Italy’s location for trade.

What were the major territorial states?

Florence, Venice, Milan, Papal States, and the Kingdom of Naples.

What was the “capital” of the Renaissance (Early and High)?

Early Renaissance: Florence; High Renaissance: Rome.

What is the name of Machiavelli’s work?

The Prince.

What did Machiavelli think about politics and morality?

Politics should be separate from morality.

What kind of leader did Machiavelli envision?

A strong, practical leader willing to do whatever is necessary to keep power.

Summarize Machiavelli’s views on politics.

Power and stability matter more than moral ideals.

What does “Machiavellian” mean?

Cunning, ruthless, and manipulative.

Does “Machiavellian” accurately describe Machiavelli’s views?

Partially, because he described political reality rather than promoting cruelty.

What does the term Renaissance mean?

It means “rebirth.”

In what ways did Europe experience a renaissance in the 1300s?

Revived classical learning, art, education, and science.

Describe the political and economic conditions that led to the Renaissance in Italy.

Wealth from trade, independent city-states, and strong patronage.

How did Renaissance ideas differ from those of the Middle Ages?

Renaissance focused on humans and life on Earth; the Middle Ages focused on religion and the afterlife.

What is the difference between Renaissance and Medieval art?

Renaissance art was realistic and used perspective; Medieval art was flat and symbolic.

What was humanism?

A movement focused on human potential and classical learning.

How was humanism expressed?

Through realistic art, classical education, civic responsibility, and critical thinking.

Define secularism.

Focus on worldly life rather than only religion.

What was individualism?

Belief in personal achievement and importance.

Who is Petrarch?

The Father of Humanism.

How did Gutenberg’s printing press change Europe?

It spread ideas faster, increased literacy, and made books cheaper.

Who were the two great patrons of Renaissance art?

The Medici Family and the Roman Catholic Church.

Define vernacular.

The everyday language spoken by people.

What themes and techniques did Renaissance artists explore?

Realism, perspective, human anatomy, and classical themes.

When did the Renaissance take place?

About 1300 to 1600.

Who designed the Duomo in Florence?

Filippo Brunelleschi.

How did humanism influence education?

Education focused on liberal arts instead of only religion.

What is meant by a liberal arts education?

Subjects that develop thinking, like history, grammar, and philosophy.

What are Leonardo da Vinci’s major works?

Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Vitruvian Man.

What are Michelangelo’s major works?

David, Pieta, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

What are Raphael’s major works?

The School of Athens and Madonna and Child.

How did Renaissance architecture reflect Greco-Roman style?

Use of arches, columns, domes, symmetry, and proportion.

How did Northern Renaissance art differ from Italian Renaissance art?

Northern art focused on detail and everyday life; Italian art focused on classical ideals and perspective.