Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration

What major societal change characterized the transition from medieval to modern society during the Renaissance?

The change involved a shift from a church-dominated, agricultural society to one with central government, nationalism, urban economy, and secular thought.

What significant social change occurred during the Renaissance in relation to class structure?

The end of serfdom and the rise of the middle class.

What were the effects of recovering from the plague and the end of the Hundred Years' War on trade?

These events led to better trade conditions.

What was the impact of the Crusades on Europe during the Renaissance?

The Crusades resulted in sustained contact between Europe and the Muslim world, enhancing trade in food, spices, hygiene, and citrus.

Why was Italy considered the center of the Renaissance?

Italy was wealthy from trade and commerce, located near the Mediterranean Sea, and politically fragmented into city-states.

Name some prominent city-states in Italy during the Renaissance.

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

Which family was influential in Florence during the Renaissance and how did they contribute?

The Medici family provided banking services for the Church and supported the arts.

What were the three social classes or estates in Renaissance society?

1. The Clergy 2. Nobility 3. Peasantry.

What does the term 'Renaissance' signify?

It refers to a cultural and intellectual period of 'Rebirth' in Italy from the 1400s to the 1700s.

What is classicism in the context of the Renaissance?

A renewed interest in classic Greek and Roman literature.

Define humanism as it relates to the Renaissance.

Humanism turned away from medieval scholasticism and embraced classic Greek and Roman literatures, focusing on learning from old poems, history, and ethics.

What is civic humanism?

The belief that good citizens should participate in the state and public affairs.

What does individualism emphasize during the Renaissance?

The belief in the human spirit and the idea that men can achieve anything they set their minds to.

What is secularism in the context of Renaissance thought?

The state is neutral or rejects religion.

Who is Niccolo Machiavelli and what is the central theme of 'The Prince'?

Machiavelli is a political philosopher who discusses whether it is better for a ruler to be feared or loved, advocating for effective rulers without moral considerations.

Who is considered the Father of Italian Renaissance Humanism?

Petrarch.

What is the significance of Pico's 'Oration on the Dignity of Man'?

It examines human nature and the potential of individuals.

What educational approach did Vittorino's school promote?

It embraced humanist education with a focus on liberal studies and physical education for the elite.

What does Castiglione's 'Book of the Courtier' describe?

It outlines the ideal qualities of an aristocrat, including classical education, physical education, achievements, musical prowess, and modesty.

What are key features of Renaissance art?

Classicism, symmetry and proportionality, individualism, perspective, chiaroscuro, and naturalism/realism.

Name some prominent Renaissance artists.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Caravaggio, Botticelli.

What role did patrons play in Renaissance art?

Wealthy patrons, including the Church and families like the Medici, commissioned artworks.

What was the Northern Renaissance and how did it differ from the Italian Renaissance?

The Northern Renaissance focused on social reform by uniting classical ideals with Christian ideas.

Who was Desiderius Erasmus and what was his contribution to the Northern Renaissance?

Erasmus, known as the 'Prince of Northern Humanists,' advocated for educational and religious reform through his work 'Praise of Folly,' promoting Christian Humanism.

What is the main theme of Thomas More's 'Utopia'?

It critiques contemporary society and envisions a government that has solved all societal problems, including religious toleration.

What are the key features of art during this period?

Depicts peasants and nature, with less nudity than the Renaissance.

What influences are present in the art of this period?

Gothic influences, not Greek or Roman.

What materials were commonly used in the art of this period?

Oil paint on panels and wood, characterized by color and meticulous detail.

Who commissioned the artworks during this period?

Wealthy merchants or monarchs.

What subjects are still used in art during this period?

Religious subjects, perspectives, and naturalism.

What is a notable example of symbolism in art from this period?

The Merode Altarpiece.

Who invented the printing press and when?

Johann Gutenberg in 1440.

What was the significance of Gutenberg's printing press?

It allowed for more books to be produced, making them more affordable and accessible to the public.

What was the first major book printed by Gutenberg?

Gutenberg's Bible in 1456.

What impact did the printing press have on literacy?

It contributed to a slow rise in literacy rates.

What is vernacular literature?

Books written in the language of the common people.

How did the printing press influence the spread of ideas?

It preserved ideas and facilitated the spread of philosophical teachings and propaganda.

What major historical movements did the printing press help spread?

The Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation beyond Italy.

What characterized the new monarchies of this period?

They controlled religion, taxes, had private armies, and centralized power.

What reforms did Charles VII implement in France?

He reorganized the government, established new tax laws, and created a permanent army.

What was Louis XI known for in France?

Forcing England out of France, gaining control over territories, and laying foundations for a strong French monarchy.

What was Henry VII's contribution to England?

He created the Tudor Dynasty and established a stable and prosperous government.

What was the significance of the marriage between Isabelle of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon?

It unified Spain and established a powerful monarchy.

What was the Inquisition in Spain?

A means to consolidate power by eliminating opposition.

What were the motivations for exploration during this period?

Glory, God, and Gold.

What advancements made exploration possible?

Centralized monarchies, advancements in cartography, better ships (caravels and galleys), and gunpowder.

Who were the notable explorers mentioned in the notes?

Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Bartholomew Diaz, and Amerigo Vespucci.

What was Columbus's goal during his voyage in 1492?

To find spices and gold, mistakenly believing he had reached India.

Who was the first to circumnavigate the globe?

Ferdinand Magellan.

What was the role of conquistadors in the Americas?

Spanish conquerors who sought to expand Spanish territory and influence.

Who conquered Mexico?

Hernando Cortés.

What was Francisco Pizarro known for?

He attempted to conquer the Inca Empire and was captured while planning to trap Spaniards.

What was Ponce de León searching for?

The fountain of youth.

What did the Pope's line of demarcation (Treaty of Tordesillas) achieve?

It split the world between Spain and Portugal to avoid conflict.

What economic belief is associated with mercantilism?

The belief that trade equals wealth, and more trade benefits a country economically.

What does the term 'bullion' refer to?

Gold and silver.

Who was Jean-Baptiste Colbert?

The finance minister to Louis XIV, who strongly supported mercantilism.

Which two countries were the main powers of exploration?

Portugal and Spain.

What was the Dutch East India Company known for?

It had a strong monopoly on trade and elaborate trade routes and ports in Asia.

What was the significance of Jamestown, established in 1607?

It was the first permanent English settlement in North America.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

A massive movement of people, plants, animals, and diseases between Europe, Africa, and the New World.

Which crops were introduced to Europe from the Columbian Exchange?

Potatoes and tomatoes.

What was one effect of the Columbian Exchange on local cultures?

It erased local cultures and replaced them with European/Western culture and religion.

What was the encomienda system?

A feudal system imposed by the Spanish to control Native Americans and enforce forced labor.

What was the triangular trade route?

A trade route that followed the Columbian Exchange, linking Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

What was the Atlantic Slave Trade?

The forced transportation of slaves from Africa to the Americas, often involving the middle passage.

What was the Price Revolution?

A period of high inflation and increased prices for commodities, leading to a lower quality of life for the poor.

What did the enclosure movement lead to?

The privatization of publicly owned lands and a shift from subsistence farming to commercial farming.

What banking innovations emerged during the Commercial Revolution?

New government banks, credit, and paper currency replaced bullion.

What was the impact of the Commercial Revolution on European society?

Increased global commerce and a shift to a money-based economy.

Who were the Fuggers and Medici?

Major banking families during the Commercial Revolution.