Download Section Summary Key Terms and People Academic Vocabulary

Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
The Renaissance and Reformation
Section 1
MAIN IDEAS
1. Increased trade with Asia brought wealth to Italian cities, leading to the
Renaissance.
2. Italian writers and artists contributed great works during the Renaissance.
Key Terms and People
Marco Polo European explorer who traveled through Asia in the 1200s
Renaissance period following the Middle Ages, characterized by renewed interest in
Greek and Roman culture and an emphasis on secular rather than religious matters
humanism emphasis on human value and achievement
Dante Alighieri Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy
Niccolo Machiavelli political philosopher who wrote The Prince
Michelangelo master artist who painted the ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel
Leonardo da Vinci master inventor, engineer, and artist who painted the Mona Lisa
Academic Vocabulary
classical referring to the cultures of ancient Greece or Rome
Section Summary
TRADE WITH ASIA
Despite the Black Death’s terrible death toll, the
disease did not harm farmland, buildings, ships,
machines, or gold. Survivors used these things to
raise more food or make new products. Europe’s
economy began to grow. Some new products from
the east appeared in markets. Traders brought these
new goods across the Silk Road, a caravan route
from Europe to China that had fallen into disuse. In
the 1200s, the Mongols re-opened the Silk Road.
A traveler named Marco Polo spent 20 years in
Asia. He wrote a book that rekindled an interest in
the Far East. The book inspired traders to seek
Asian goods.
By the 1300s Florence, Genoa, Milan, and
Venice had become major trading centers in Italy.
List one good result that
came from the otherwise
terrible Black Death.
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Who wrote a book that
rekindled Europeans'
interest in the Far East?
_______________________
_______________________
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Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 1, continued
These cities also were manufacturing centers. They
made many specialized products. Venice and Genoa
were port cities. Huge ships brought goods from
Asia into their harbors.
Florence developed a banking system used all
over Europe. The richest bankers were the Medici
family. In Italian cities, rich families controlled the
government. By 1434 Cosimo de Medici (KOH-zeemoh day MED-I-chee) ruled Florence. He wanted to
make Florence a center of art, literature, and
culture. This love of art and education was key to
the Renaissance, which means “rebirth.” The
Renaissance followed the Middle Ages.
ITALIAN WRITERS AND ARTISTS
In the Middle Ages, most thinkers in Europe
devoted themselves to religious study. In the
Renaissance, people began to study poetry, history,
and art. These subjects are part of the humanities.
This emphasis on human achievement was called
humanism. This led to a renewed interest in the
classical writings of the Greeks and Romans.
Dante Alighieri (DAHN-tay ahl-eeg-YEH-ree) was
an early Italian Renaissance writer. He wrote in
Italian, the language of the common people, rather
than in Latin. A later writer, Niccolo Machiavelli
(neek-koh-LOH mahk-yah-VEL-lee), advised leaders
on how they should rule in his book, The Prince.
A Renaissance person is one who does
everything well. Two men best embodied this ideal.
Michelangelo (mee-kay-LAHN-jay-loh) had many
talents. He designed buildings, wrote poetry, made
sculptures, and was a master painter. Leonardo da
Vinci was another master in the arts. But he also
was an architect, inventor, engineer, and mapmaker.
Who usually controlled the
Italian cities during this
time period?
_______________________
_______________________
How was education in the
Renaissance different from
education during the
Middle Ages?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the names of two
people who are each
considered a Renaissance
person.
CHALLENGE ACTIVITY
Critical Thinking: Drawing Inferences Why do
you think beauty and education were so important
to the Medici family of Florence? Write a short
paper explaining your answer.
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Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 1, continued
DIRECTIONS On the line provided before each statement, write T if a
statement is true and F if a statement is false. If the statement is false,
write the correct term on the line after each sentence that makes the
sentence a true statement.
_____ 1. Michelangelo, whose work included the famous portrait Mona Lisa, was
an expert painter.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 2. A trader from Venice, Marco Polo spent 20 years in Asia before returning
to Venice and recording his journey.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 3. The word Renaissance means “rebirth” and refers to the period that
followed Europe’s Middle Ages.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 4. The painting that covers the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican
was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 5. An Italian writer who contributed great works of literature to the
Renaissance and wrote in Italian instead of Latin was Dante Alighieri.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 6. Renaissance is way of thinking and learning that stresses the importance
of human abilities and actions.
___________________________________________________________
_____ 7. The Prince, written by an Italian writer and politician Niccolo Machiavelli,
gave leaders advice on how they should rule.
___________________________________________________________
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