Download The Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance
(A) The word renaissance means
“rebirth”, it occurred in Europe
between 1350 and 1550.
(B) Italy was largely an urban society, with
a secular viewpoint.
 (C) A new view of human beings that
emphasized individual ability and worth
emerged.
 (D) The upper classes were more affected
than the lower classes.
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Italian States
(A) Northern & Central city-states of Milan,
Venice, & Florence prospered from trade &
played big roles in the politics of that time.
 (B) The wealthy city of Milan was in the
north at the crossroads of the main trade
routes from coastal cities to the Alpine
passes.
 (C) Venice was an international power, a
link between Asia & Western Europe.
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Italian States
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(D) Florence dominated
the Tuscany region. In
1434 Cosimo de’ Medici
took control of Florence.
(E) A Dominican preacher
named Girolamo
Savonarla condemned the
Medicis corruption &
excesses & took control.
(F) He did not like
gambling, swearing,
dancing, & painting.
Italian States
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(G) Charles VIII of France
led an army of 30,000
men into Italy in 1494.
Northern Italian states
asked Spain for help. For
30 years France & Spain
fought in Italy.
(H) In 1527 Spanish
troops sacked Rome
because they had not
been paid in months, and
this ended the war and
left Spain the force in
Italy.
Machiavelli
(A) The Prince by Machiavelli is one of the
most influential works on political power in
the Western World.
 (B) A prince, should not act on moral
principles but on behalf of the interests of
the state.
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Renaissance Society
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(A) Nobles were expected to
have talent, character, & grace.
They had to perform military &
physical exercise & gain a
classical education.
(B) Peasants made up 85 to 90
% of the total European
population.
(C) To strengthen family or
business ties, an agreement
between families sealed a
marriage contract, and a
dowry, a sum of money the
bride’s family paid the groom
was used.