Social Studies Renaissance

What was the Renaissance?

Rebirth of Greek & Roman ideas. Focus on secular learning and the individual

Who controlled Europe before the Renaissance?

The Catholic Church

How did the feudal system work?

The Lord gave land to vassals if they fought for him. Serfs did the labor

What were women used for?

Political bargaining

Name the 4 main causes of the Renaissance

Crusades, Black Death, Hundred Years’ War, Great Schism

When did the Crusades start and who called them?

1095, Pope Urban II

What did the Pope promise crusaders?

Sins forgiven + loot

How did the Crusades create a middle class?

Trade in silk & spices made merchants rich → they became art patrons

Who opened trade with China?

Marco Polo

What caused the Black Death?

Bubonic plague from fleas on rats (1347)

How much did Europe’s population drop?

From 150 million to 75 million

How did the Black Death hurt feudalism?

Many serfs died → serfs freed → kings & middle class gained power

When was the Hundred Years’ War?

1337–1453 (France vs England)

Name 2 new weapons and their effect

Cannons (castles obsolete) and longbow (knights obsolete)

What was the Great Schism?

Two popes at once → people questioned the Church

Why did the Renaissance start in Italy?

Center of Mediterranean trade + easy access to ancient Greek & Roman writings

What were the 4 main cities of trade in Italy?

Big cities: Venice, Milan, Genoa, Florence

What is a Renaissance Man?

Artistic, athletic, educated, serves the city-state

What is a Renaissance Woman?

Graceful, educated, inspires art (doesn’t create it)

What is linear perspective?

Parallel lines meet at one point. (Brunelleschi, da Vinci)

What is atmospheric perspective?

Things farther away look less clear. (da Vinci)

Who used light & shadow for depth?

Raphael & Michelangelo

Who wrote the Divine Comedy?

Dante (in Italian)

Who is the Father of Humanism?

Petrarch

What did Castiglione write?

The Courtier (how to be the ideal gentleman)

What is Machiavelli’s main idea in The Prince?

Better to be feared than loved. Ends justify the means

How was the Northern Renaissance different?

Used Italian ideas to reform society (Christian humanism)

Who wrote Utopia?

Thomas More (“nowhere”)

Who wrote Praise of Folly?

Erasmus (made fun of the Church)

What is Shakespeare known for?

Added ~3,000 words to English and wrote sonnets/plays

Secular

Not religious; focused on worldly things instead of the Church

Humanism

Belief that focuses on the value and potential of individual people

Patron

A rich person who pays artists to create art

Vernacular

The everyday local language (not Latin)

Perspective

A way of drawing that makes pictures look 3D and realistic

Feudalism

The old system where lords owned land and serfs worked it in exchange for protection

Excommunication

Being kicked out of the Catholic Church (a serious punishment)

Vassal

A person who was given land by a lord and promised to fight for him

Serf

A peasant who was tied to the land and had to work for the lord

Schism

A major split or division (like when there were two popes at once)

Utopia

An imaginary perfect society (the word means “nowhere”)

Courtier

A person who serves and advises a king or prince at court