Renaissance 01

Question 1

What is Renaissance

Answer 1

A cultural and intellectual movement
From simplistic to increasingly sophisticated

Question 2

When did the Renaissance happen

Answer 2

14th-17th Centuries

Question 3

Where did the Renaissance began

Answer 3

Italian Peninsula, then spread throughout Europe

Question 4

3 features of Renaissance

Answer 4

1. Revival of Greco-Roman civilisation
2. Emphasizing on humanism
3. Challenging traditions

Question 5

5 reasons for the cause of Renaissance

Answer 5

1. Decline of Feudal System
2. Decline of Church’s influence
3. Spread of Eastern knowledge
4. Rise of wealthy city-states and class
5. Rise of universities

Question 6

Why did the decline of feudal system happen in the first place?

Answer 6

• The Crusades (11th-13th century) killed a lot of Lords and Knights; Peasants no longer do their job, but escape to the city
• Black Death swept away a lot of Peasants
  » destabilising the Feudal system

Question 7

Why was there a decline of Church’s influence?

Answer 7

• The Crusades was prompted by the Church (as God’s will), but little to no victory for Europeans, and A LOT of deaths
• Black Death – the Church could not stop the plague
  » Lost respect and prestige
  » Rulers refuse to pay tax, Europeans lose even more respect

Question 8

Cause of the widespread of Eastern knowledge?

Answer 8

• Arab scholars in Medieval have gud knowledge of Sci, Math, Med & Astro
• Crusades also caused a trade of goods + ideas.
  » Brought Greco-roman civilisations into Europe

Question 9

What caused the rise of wealthy city-states and class?

Answer 9

Wealthy city-states&raquo_space; italian trading centres, ports and towns. Trade routes developed because of Crusades
Class&raquo_space; Merchants rise to power through wealth. Value art and science, worldly matters (such as $$$)

Question 10

Reason behind the rise of university?

Answer 10

Merchants need literary people to help them do some work. Built universities that teaches outside of biblical studies (e.g. medicine, law, philosophy)

Question 11

What developments in Literature was there (4)

Answer 11

1. Language
2. Content
3. Audience
4. Production

Question 12

Elaborate on language

Answer 12

Medieval: Latin, little people can understand
Renaissance: writer’s own native language, more people can understand

Question 13

Elaborate on content

Answer 13

Medieval: Religion (e.g. prayers, saint biographies, hymns)
Renaissance: Humanism, worldly matters, less on religion

Question 14

Elaborate on audience

Answer 14

Medieval: only priests and scholars (little ppl understand Latin)
Renaissance: general public (because of the language change and possibly content change)

Question 15

Elaborate on production

Answer 15

Medieval: hand-copied (expensive and speicial)
Renaissance: Gutenberg printing press (print fast and lower cost, hence help spread ideas throughout Europe)

Question 16

1st example of Literature change (D__?)

Answer 16

Dante
work: Divine Comedy
language: written in Italian
content: social inequality at the time, travelling to heaven and hell (humanism)
audience: wide range of audiences, pioneer in european literature

Question 17

2nd example of Literature change (Bo___?)

Answer 17

Boccaccio
work: Decameron
language: written in his native language
content: wrongdoings of church + young ppl fleeing from plague
audience: /

Question 18

3rd example of Literature change (eng lit star)

Answer 18

Shakespeare
work: Romeo and Juliet, a Merchant in Venice e.t.c.
language: english
content: diverse in theme, different aspects of life and humanism (romance, humour, social classes)
audience: middle-upper classes watch his plays