Italian Renaissance

A cultural movement (1300s–1500s) that began in Italy and focused on art, learning, and ideas inspired by ancient Greece and Rome.

Secular

Non-religious; focused on everyday life, politics, and human achievements instead of only religion.

Leonardo Di Vinci

A Renaissance “polymath” (many talents) known for art, science, and invention; painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Milan

A powerful Renaissance city-state known for its strong military and wealthy rulers.

Venice

A wealthy Renaissance city-state built on trade and sea power; important for commerce and culture.

Florence

The birthplace of the Renaissance; famous for art, banking, and the influence of the Medici family.

Mercenaries

Professional soldiers hired to fight for money instead of loyalty to a country.

de’ Medici (family importance)

A powerful banking family in Florence who funded artists and scholars, helping the Renaissance grow.

Machiavelli

A political thinker who wrote The Prince, arguing that rulers should do whatever is necessary to keep power.

Dowry

Money or property a bride’s family gives to the groom when she marries.

Humanism

A Renaissance belief system that focused on human potential, education, and classical (Greek and Roman) learning.

Petrarch

The “Father of Humanism”; promoted the study of classical texts and humanist ideas.

Vernacular

The everyday language spoken by ordinary people, not Latin.

Dante

Italian writer who wrote The Divine Comedy in the vernacular (Italian), making literature more accessible.

Chaucer

English writer who wrote The Canterbury Tales in vernacular English.

Christine de Pizan

A Renaissance writer who defended women’s education and abilities; one of the first feminist writers.

Raphael

A Renaissance artist known for balanced, realistic paintings such as The School of Athens.

Michelangelo

A Renaissance artist famous for sculptures (David, Pietà) and painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.