Download CORNELL NOTES 8-1 The Renaissance

CORNELL NOTES 8.1 - The Renaissance
March 5, 2012 - Page 153
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The word "Renaissance" means Rebirth
It refers to the time in European History when society and culture flowered due to the discovery
of Ancient Greek and Roman texts.
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There are four basic reasons the Middle Ages ended and the Renaissance began (Cool Guys
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1. The Crusades created a demand for goods from the Middle East as well as exposure to
Greek and Muslim writings and knowledge
2. Greeks fleeing the Turkish conquest of Byzantium brought many Greek texts with them
to the West
3. The Black Death shrank the amount of workers, increasing demand for their services
and putting an end to the manor system
4. The Mongols reestablished the Silk Road, creating demand for Chinese goods in the
West.