Civ Ch. 15 Test

What are the five major Italian territories during the Renaissance?

Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and the Kingdom of Naples.

Definition of Mercenaries

Soldiers who fight primarily for pay.

What was Venice's role during the Renaissance?

It served as a commercial link between Asia and Western Europe and had a profitable trade empire.

Definition of Republic

A form of government where the leader isn’t a king and certain citizens can vote.

Who was Cosimo de Medici?

An Italian banker and politician who took control of Florence in 1434 and ran the government behind the scenes.

What was the significance of The Prince by Machiavelli?

It is a book about how to acquire and maintain political power, advocating that the ends justify the means.

What are the three social classes of Renaissance society?

Clergy, Nobility, and Peasants/Townspeople.

Who were the Burghers?

The middle class, including shopkeepers and artisans.

What was the role of fathers in Renaissance families?

Fathers managed the farm, made decisions in children's lives, and had authority over their children.

What was Humanism?

An intellectual movement that emphasized secularism and the study of classical literature.

Who is considered the 'Father of Italian Renaissance humanism'?

Petrarch.

What is vernacular literature?

Literature written in the everyday language of a region, as opposed to Latin.

Who wrote The Divine Comedy?

Dante Alighieri.

What impact did Gutenberg's printing press have on the Renaissance?

It expanded scholarly research and changed how knowledge was distributed.

What is chiaroscuro in Renaissance art?

A technique used to create the illusion of depth and volume through gradations of light and shadow.

Definition of Fresco

A painting done on fresh, wet plaster with water-based paints.

What major developments were seen in movement and anatomy in Renaissance art?

Investigation of human movement and anatomy, as well as the technical side including the laws of perspective.

Who was Leonardo da Vinci?

An archetypal Renaissance Man known for his contributions as an artist, scientist, and inventor.

What distinguishes Northern Renaissance art from Southern Renaissance art?

Northern Renaissance art focused on realism within smaller scales and detailed observations due to different artistic traditions.

Who was Jan van Eyck?

An artist known for being one of the first to use oil painting to create striking realism and fine details.