POD Quiz 13 Flashcards
How did the mindset shift during the Renaissance compared to Medieval times?
Emphasis on Human Potential
During the Renaissance, people started to focus more on what one person could achieve by themselves, rather than just following the group or focusing solely on religion. This was a big part of what we call the humanist movement, where individual success and abilities were really celebrated.
Exploring Arts and Sciences
In the Renaissance, there was a big shift to exploring and creating new things in art and science, moving away from the mainly religious focus of the Middle Ages. This led to amazing discoveries and artworks by famous people like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo.
Focus on Secular Interests
During the Renaissance, people started paying more attention to non-religious aspects of daily life and how countries were governed. This meant that the church had less control over cultural and intellectual activities.
How did Gutenberg’s printing press make it easier and faster to make books, and why did that matter for people who wanted to read and learn?
Movable Type
Gutenberg’s printing press introduced movable type, which allowed individual letters and characters to be arranged to print pages much more quickly.
Mass Production
This made it possible to produce books in large quantities at a lower cost, increasing the availability of books to a wider audience.
Widespread Impact
By making books more accessible, the printing press played a crucial role in spreading knowledge, contributing to advancements in literacy, education, and the spread of new ideas across Europe.
Describe how Leonardo da Vinci showed he was a true Renaissance Man through his wide range of skills and interests.
Artistic Mastery
Leonardo is famous for masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, which showed his advanced techniques in shading, perspective, and realistic detail, setting standards in Renaissance art.
Scientific Inquiry
Leonardo was involved in studying the natural world, contributing detailed drawings of the body and theories in geology (study of rocks) and botany (study of plants)that combined artistic skill with scientific observation.
Engineering Designs
He also created designs for inventions far ahead of his time, such as flying machines and underwater gear, demonstrating his visionary thinking and mechanical genius.
What were Michelangelo’s greatest accomplishments as a Renaissance Man?
Sculpture
Michelangelo’s sculptures, like the “David” and the “Pietà,” showcased unmatched realism and emotion, revolutionizing Renaissance art with his mastery of human anatomy and expression.
Painting
His painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, featuring detailed designs and over 300 figures, is regarded as one of the most influential works in Western art.
Architecture
Michelangelo significantly impacted Renaissance architecture with his work on St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, especially the design of its iconic dome.
How did the shift in mindset of the Renaissance period inspire the Age of Exploration?
Renaissance Curiosity
The Renaissance’s focus on humanism and rediscovery of classical knowledge sparked a curiosity to explore beyond known boundaries, encouraging explorers to discover new lands and cultures.
Technological Advances
Innovations in navigation and mapmaking during the Renaissance, inspired by a revival in scientific study and inquiry, gave explorers the tools needed for long sea voyages that defined the Age of Exploration.
What were the three main reasons European explorers ventured into the New World, often referred to as the “Three G’s”?
Gold
The main reason Europeans explored was to find wealth.
Explorers and the people who gave them money hoped to discover new and faster trade routes and valuable resources in new lands. They were looking for gold, but also spices and silk.
These discoveries were very important because selling these items brought huge profits in Europe, making both the explorers and their sponsors very rich.
Glory
During this time, European countries were very competitive, trying to outdo each other in power and prestige. By discovering and claiming new lands, they hoped to become more influential and important in the world.
Explorers like Columbus became famous. Monarchs often paid for their trips because they wanted their countries to be more powerful than their rivals.
Gaining new territories was not just about bragging rights; it also helped countries become stronger, helping them to become more important
God
The spread of Christianity was another key of European exploration. Both Catholic and Protestant nations saw the New World as ground for religious expansion.
Explorers often brought missionaries with them who tried to convert the local people they met to Christianity.
The spread of Christianity was also seen as a way to educate and ‘civilize’ other cultures.
Why did Columbus think he was heading to Asia, where did he actually land, and why did he call the indigenous people he encountered “Indians”?
Intended Destination (Oops!)
Columbus aimed to find a westward route to Asia (the Indies) to access its rich spices and goods, believing the Earth was smaller than it is.
Actual Landing
Instead of reaching Asia, Columbus landed in the Caribbean, specifically on islands now known as the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola (countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic), which were unknown to Europeans at the time.
Naming the Natives
Columbus called the indigenous people “Indians” because he mistakenly thought he had reached India.
Today, we recognize this term as inaccurate and use “Native Americans” or the specific names of each indigenous group to be more accurate and respectful of individual cultures.
How did Columbus persuade King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to fund his later voyages?
Potential for Wealth
Columbus emphasized the potential for vast amounts of gold, spices, and other valuable resources that further exploration could bring to Spain.
Strategic Trade Advantages
He argued that Spain could establish a dominant trade presence, rivaling Portugal, and gain access to new markets and goods.
Religious Goals
Columbus highlighted the opportunity to spread Christianity and convert the indigenous people
