Renaissance Chapter 2

Question 1

What does “Renaissance” mean and what language is it?

Answer 1

It is French for “rebirth”.

Question 2

When was the Renaissance?

Answer 2

From the fourteenth THROUGH the sixteenth centuries. (Lasted until the 17th century.)

Question 3

What happened during this era?

Answer 3

Europe emerged from the economic stagnation of the Middle Ages and experiences a time of financial growth. Also, and perhaps most importantly, the Renaissance was an age in which artistic, social, scientific, and political thought turned in new directions.

Question 4

In what ways do you think the Polos’ worldview might have been different from the worldview of most people of the Middle Ages?

Answer 4

He got to experience different living conditions and saw an entirely different part of the world.

Question 5

Where did the Polos travel?

Answer 5

Across Asia, but mainly on the silk road.

Question 6

What was the silk road?

Answer 6

A set of routes that connected civilizations from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean.

Question 7

What did the silk road do?

Answer 7

It was used for trading and helped to exchange ideas and knowledge through international contact.

Question 8

Trade between Italy and the East had been re-established several centuries before the Polos’ travels as a result of…

Answer 8

…a series of religious wars known as the Crusades.

Question 9

What were important results of the Crusades? (2)

Answer 9

1. Contact with Muslim civilizations.

2. Trade.

Question 10

Who fought in the Crusades?

Answer 10

The Christians and the Muslims.

Question 11

How come contact with Muslim civilizations was good for the Europeans?

Answer 11

The Muslim world was more advanced.

Question 12

What did contact between the Europeans and Muslims expose them to?

Answer 12

New ways of thinking. It also introduced Europeans to different intellectual ideas and knowledge from other societies.

Question 13

What did Crusaders do and what did that lead to?

Answer 13

They brought back many new goods that were not available in Europe. This led to tremendous demand and further trade between Europe and the East.

Question 14

What kind of goods did the Crusaders bring back from the East? (6)

Answer 14

Oil, fruits, spices, luxury goods not available in Europe; precious jewels, rugs, and fabrics.

Question 15

What was the most valuable/desirable good from the East?

Answer 15

Spices; in many cases, they were worth more than their weight in gold.

Question 16

What happened to keep up with the demands of Europeans? When did this happen?

Answer 16

Merchants hired adventurers and sailors to open new trade routes. These new trade routes began a revival in business and shipping in the Western world. This was by the late Middle Ages.

Question 17

What happened as a result of merchants?

Answer 17

The numbers of merchants and traders in Europe grew and so did their wealth. The merchants became a powerful new class outside the hierarchy of the feudal system. Their wealth brought them the power to influence leaders and led to a change in worldview. People began to see that it was possible to move outside of their class. Because of the increased trading, cities began to grow.

Question 18

What were the largest cities in Europe by the 14th century? (4)

Answer 18

Paris, Florence, Venice, and Genoa.

Question 19

What did the largest cities in Europe do?

Answer 19

They increased the demands for foods and other products and led to changes in the way people lived.

Question 20

What did industries begin to specialize in?

Answer 20

Goods for trade, such as textiles, furniture, and handicrafts.

Question 21

What was the result of industries specializing in goods?

Answer 21

More people moved to the cities to work in these industries. Workers began to find and create jobs that were not part of the feudal system, and, thus, became less dependent on the nobles. Some communities became so prosperous and powerful from trade, industry, and banking that they became city-states. Individuals began to feel a sense of belonging to their larger communities, not just their local lord.

Question 22

How did Renaissance Europe look different from today’s Europe? (Especially Italy)

Answer 22

Many countries had different borders compared to today and many were not countries at all, but kingdoms and empires.

Italy was a collection of city-states.

Question 23

What is a city-state?

Answer 23

A city that is politically independent along with the rural area around it.

Question 24

What is the rural area around the city of a city-state called?

Answer 24

Hinterland.

Question 25

Where did dozens of city-states grow up?

Answer 25

Across the northern half of Italy.

Question 26

Why did the city-states in Italy become the wealthiest cities in Europe? (4)

Answer 26

1. Geography.
2. Climate.
3. Leadership.
4. Social organization.

Question 27

What role did geography play in Italian city-states? (2)

Answer 27

• Compared to the rest of Europe, Italy was closest to the port cities of Northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
• Trade for spices and other luxury goods was easier and cheaper compared to the rest of Europe.

Question 28

What role did climate play in Italian city-states? (2)

Answer 28

• Italy’s climate is milder compared to European countries north of the Alps. This meant that trade was not affected by winter weather.
• The climate was also beneficial in growing crops such as olives (for oil) and grapes (for wine). Both were very valuable in trade.

Question 29

What role did leadership play in Italian city-states? (3)

Answer 29

• In pre-modern Europe, most countries were monarchies ruled by a king or queen.
• Northern Italy, on the other hand, was a collection of city-states that had their own governments, armies, and controlled their own affairs.
• Venice, Milan, Florence, and Genoa became the wealthiest trading, business, and banking centers in Europe.

Question 30

What role did social organization play in Italian city-states? (3)

Answer 30

• Feudalism was not as influential in Italy compared to the rest of Europe.
• In Italy, the nobles moved into the towns and became part of the upper class.
• Many became involved in business and politics.

Question 31

What control did the Venetians (Venice) have over trade ports? (5)

Answer 31

1. Was founded on a group of islands in a protected harbour, making it easy to defend.
2. Became great centre as a result of its dealings with the East.
3. Thousands of ships travelled throughout the Mediterranean Sea and eventually along the Atlantic coast to ports in northern Europe.
4. Became the largest ship-building centre in Europe.
5. 2-300 workers in the shipbuilding business.

Question 32

What control did the Genoese (Genoa) have over trade ports? (4)

Answer 32

1. Controlled a share of trade in the eastern Mediterranean.
2. Had ports in the Black Sea.
3. Controlled trade with the Spanish ports and Barcelona.
4. Was destroyed in 1380 and never regained power.

Question 33

How did merchants make money?

Answer 33

They purchased goods in one place re-sold them for a higher price in another place.

Question 34

Did merchants only buy and sell spices and luxury items?

Answer 34

No, they also sold raw items such as wool that would be used to make cloth.

Question 35

How did Florentine bankers make money?

Answer 35

They loaned money to finance international trade and voyages. Banks would make money off of the interest collected from loans. This was called usury.

Question 36

What did the Church originally think of usury and what made them change their mind?

Answer 36

The Church originally consider usury sinful but changed its mind to encourage investments in international trade. They realized they could be given donations this way.

Question 37

What did everyone want, besides goods and money?

Answer 37

Political power.

Question 38

What did merchants and bankers realize and what did they do as a result?

Answer 38

The constant struggles and warfare interfered with their ability to trade and do business. So they began supporting strong leaders who could promise stability.

Question 39

What was the result of European bankers and merchants travelling around Europe on business?

Answer 39

It exposed their lifestyle to others.

Question 40

What did wealthy Europeans, artists, and scholars begin doing and what was the result?

Answer 40

They visited Italy in curiosity and were impressed with its beauty and sophistication. Italian values and ideas were then spread across Europe.

Question 41

What did the Black Death play a significant role in in Italy?

Answer 41

Italy’s economy and citizenship.

Question 42

In what ways did the Black Death alter Italy’s economy and citizenship? (2)

Answer 42

1. Wealthy people began spending money on the arts because there were few good business opportunities to invest in.
2. The wealthy also contributed to the beautification of their cities to encourage a feeling of loyalty and pride in the public.

Question 43

Define usury.

Answer 43

The practice of charging interest when loaning money to someone.

Question 44

Define republic.

Answer 44

A state in which power is held by the people.

Question 45

Define despot.

Answer 45

A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

Question 46

Define oligarchy.

Answer 46

An unelected group of powerful leaders.

Question 47

Define sovereignty.

Answer 47

Supreme power or authority.

Question 48

Define guild.

Answer 48

A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.

Question 49

Define scuola.

Answer 49

Italian for school.

Question 50

Define doge.

Answer 50

The chief magistrate of Venice or Genoa.