the Renaissance

Question 1

timeline

Answer 1

ancient times –> fall of western roman empire –> medieval times –> fall of eastern roman empire (Constantinople)/Columbus arrived in America –> the Renaissance –> modern times

Question 2

when was the renaissance

Answer 2

14-16th century

Question 3

what does the term “renaissance” mean

Answer 3

rebirth

Question 4

what was “reborn” in the renaissance

Answer 4

classical/Greco-Roman learning/civilization

Question 5

Where did the renaissance begin and where did it subsequently spread

Answer 5

It started in Florence, an Italian city-state, and the spread to the rest of Europe

Question 6

how would you describe the faith of the Europeans in the early middle ages

Answer 6

They were faithful Christians, religious, obedient to the church

Question 7

give evidence from historical knowledge to prove the religious sense of Europeans in the early middle ages

Answer 7

• central location of the church in a manor + tall & ground cathedrals
• the church could excommunicate people
• the church’s teaching dominated
• the church was the biggest land owner + people had to give tithe (1/10 of income) to the church
• people believed in the church and bought indulgences

Question 8

impact of bad behaviors of churchmen in the late middle ages (eg. selling indulgences)

Answer 8

People started to doubt the church because of its corrupt practices. Instead of following everything the church asked them to do, they started to think there were better ways to worship god

Question 9

affects of setting up of universities in late middle ages

Answer 9

• spread knowledge through education
• more subjects, eg. science
  –> spread of education and knowledge
  –> develop critical and individual thinking

Question 10

new ideas brought from the muslim arabs

Answer 10

new ideas from the east
–> people realized that the church was not always correct

Question 11

decline of church conclusion

Answer 11

the power of the church was weakened. It started to lose its influence on the way of thinking of the people. People refused to accept blindly the ideas advocated by the church

Question 12

how did the following lead to the decline of the nobility and rise of freemen?

some medieval towns became rich through their freedom and formed their own government

Answer 12

nobles gradually lost the control over their vassals, and hence the power of the nobility declined

Question 13

how did the following lead to the decline of the nobility and rise of freemen?

many peasants went to towns and city-states to look for paid jobs

Answer 13

nobles gradually lost the control over their vassals, and hence the power of the nobility declined

Question 14

how did the following lead to the decline of the nobility and rise of freemen?

the black death killed one-third of the people and animals in Europe

Answer 14

• nobles lost man power (serfs were owned by nobles as property)
• needed to employ paid freemen to work in the fields
• further weakened the power of the nobles

Question 15

decline of feudalism impact

Answer 15

with the decline of feudalism, people’s life and way of thinking was liberated. They started to question old beliefs and develop new life goals

Question 16

who invented the printing press

Answer 16

Gutenberg (a German craftsman)

Question 17

what did Gutenberg invent

Answer 17

the movable metal type printing press

Question 18

what happened after the invention of printing press

Answer 18

books were then produced by printing instead of writing manuscripts and wooden block painting

Question 19

advantages of the invention of printing press

Answer 19

• books are made more cheaply, quickly and accurately
• more people could afford books
• spread of new ideas and education

Question 20

what is the cause of this effect?

interest in classical learning

Answer 20

• falling of constantinople in 1453 – scholars in the eastern roman empire fled to italy, bringing with them classical greek and roman writing.
• italian city-states had many roman remains

Question 21

what is the cause of this effect?

• spread of knowledge
• encouraged independent thinking and creativity

Answer 21

• decline of the church and feudalism
• invention of printing press

Question 22

what is the effect of this cause?

italian city-states became rich as a result of increased trade

Answer 22

rich merchants patronized works of art and other projects

Question 23

reasons why the renaissance started in roman city-states

Answer 23

• italian city-states had many roman remains
• italian city-states became rich as a result of increased trade

Question 24

what does humanism emphasize

Answer 24

it emphasized that human beings had their values, abilities, creativity and freedom. Human beings were important.

Question 25

compare how people of the middle ages and the humanists of the renaissance looked at man

Answer 25

middle ages: they believed that men were sinners and insignificant

renaissance: men were capable of achievements and creativity

Question 26

why did people of the middle ages believe that men were sinners and insignificant

Answer 26

“original sin” as in the bible

Question 27

compare how people of the middle ages and the humanists of the renaissance looked at god

Answer 27

middle ages: thoughts were all religious. accepted whatever the church told them

renaissance: had more freedom in thinking.
–> encouraged independent, critical and scientific thinking. They were eager to search for the truth

Question 28

compare how people of the middle ages and the humanists of the renaissance looked at life

Answer 28

middle ages:
- led a very hard life
- knew they could not improve their life of earth
- only hope lay with life in heaven
- life experience was very limited

Renaissance:
- grew rich through increased trade
- believed they should try to improve their life on earth
- began to take a greater interest in the outside world and were more eager to explore