Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is the scientific method and what role did it play during the Renaissance (why was it important)?
● The process of making observations,
experimenting, and drawing conclusions based on
evidence is known as the “scientific method.”
● The use of the scientific method led to discoveries
in many areas during the Renaissance, especially
astronomy, medicine, and mathematics.
What is the heliocentric model of the universe? How is this different from the geocentric model?
The geocentric model says that the earth is at the center of the cosmos or universe, and the planets, the sun and the moon, and the stars circles around it. The early heliocentric models consider the sun as the center, and the planets revolve around the sun.
Geocentric is like geo as in rock and people back then thought that everything revolved around the earth.
In what ways did the heliocentric model challenge the teachings of the Catholic Church?
It challenged the Church’s authority by contradicting its teachings.
What advances in medicine/anatomy/mathematics were made during the Renaissance?
Medicine
● During the Renaissance, medical knowledge grew as the scientific method was more frequently applied.
Medicine: Anatomy
● Dissection was made legal during the Renaissance for the purpose of study.
Mathematics
● The works of ancient mathematicians were studied with new vigor during the Renaissance.
Mathematics: Perspective
● The Renaissance architectFilippo Brunelleschi (re)discovered the mathematicaltheory of perspective.
What does “perspective” mean in mathematics/art?
- Perspective is the technique of representing 3D objects on a 2D surface.
- The Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi (re)discovered the mathematical theory of perspective.
Who is Isabella D’Este? What was she known for?
● Isabella eventually became known as a strong and benevolent leader. She was called the “first lady of the world.”
Who is Niccolo Machiavelli? What was he known for?
The Scientific Ruler
● It became one of the most influential texts ever written.
● Many of Machiavelli’s ideas can be summed up in the phrase “The ends justify the means.”
Why was the Catholic Church so corrupt? Which 2 individuals fought against this corruption?
Girolamo Savonarola
● Girolamo Savonarola was a monk who dedicated his life to fighting against the Church’s corruption.
● For a few years, Savonarola was considered an unofficial leader of Florence.
● Using his influence, he publicly accused the pope of corruption.
Martin Luther
● 20 years after Savonarola, the German monk Martin Luther also took action against the Catholic Church.
● Luther was also upset with the corruption of the Church. He took issue with the way the Church obtained their immense wealth.
● The Church made money by selling indulgences - certificates that reduced the time people would be punished for their sins in purgatory after they died.
● In 1517, Luther nailed his “Ninety-Five Theses”, criticizing indulgences, on a church door in Germany.
● Copies were then printed and distributed throughout the country.
● The pope excommunicated Luther and he was forced to go into hiding.
What are “indulgences”?
The Church made money by selling indulgences - certificates that reduced the time people would be punished for their sins in purgatory after they died.
What is the Protestant Reformation? Who started it? Was it successful (why or why not)?
The Protestant Reformation
● Luther’s ideas reached many Germans, who followed him when he broke away from the Catholic Church.
● Before long, Luther’s ideas spread all across Europe.
● Luther and the people who agreed with his ideas became known as Protestants, and this time in history known as the “Protestant Reformation.”
How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestant Reformation?
The Catholic Counter-Reformation
● The Catholic Church lost much of its authority and membership because of the Protestant Reformation.
● In 1545, Pope Paul III called meetings (the Council of Trent) at which the Church examined its policies.
● As a result, corruption was cleaned up.
● Religious orders that focused on conversion were also established. The most notable was the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
How did the way information was spread change during the Renaissance?
Gathering Great Minds
● At the beginning of the Renaissance, information was largely spread by word of mouth.
● Many humanists taught at Italian universities where they shared their ideas.
● Some instructors were so famous that people traveled from afar to attend their lectures. They then returned to their own cities and shared their learning.
Gathering Great Minds
● Renaissance scientists, artists, and thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci were considered celebrities.
● These celebrities traveled all over Europe sharing their talent.
● Kings and queens also invited famous humanists to stay at their courts and entertain guests.
Why was the invention of the printing press so important to society?
The Printing Press: A New Technology
● At the beginning of the Renaissance, most people were illiterate, and only the wealthy could afford books.
● All books were handwritten. It took a scribe months or even years to produce a single text.
● In 1440, everything changed. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, which allowed books to be produced quickly and cheaply.
The Printing Press: A New Technology
● Now that books were cheaper, middle class people began to read and discuss ideas.
● More books were printed in the vernacular.
● Authors made money from the books they published, giving them the freedom to travel and spread their ideas even wider.
