Download Renaissance Research Topics Assignments

Bimester 2_Quiz 1 The Renaissance
…A word of advice
In order to prepare for our quiz you need to a) go over you class notes, and b) browse through the
materials listed on Teacherweb to become familiar with the topics, issues, interrelationships, and
consequences of the Renaissance.
Pay attention to the new and emerging political, social, and economic systems and institutions that
were born during the Renaissance. Keep in mind the unique yet changing nature of the relationship
between the church and the nobility, the city-states, and the new social classes that are born as a
consequence of the concentration of wealth and the rise of Italian urban centers.
It is important to understand and contextualize the new ideas about humankind and its relationship
to the environment, society, political systems, economy, and the rapid and expanding literary, artistic,
architectural, and ideological changes of the period.
Last but not least, do not lose sight of the new economic and political players that rise in the 13th and
14th centuries (European empires like Portugal, Britain, Spain, France) which, as we will see,
influenced the idea of humanism, colonization, and led to encountering the so-called New World.
Study Guide Topics:
RENAISSANCE I
Where and when did it start? , How and why did it arise?, What were its characteristics?
Commerce: who was conducting commercial activity? What kind of commercial activities? Who did
Europe trade with? What did commerce do for cities/towns?
RENAISSANCE II
 The rise of family dynasties: What is a dynasty-definition?
 How and why do Renaissance dynasties come about?
 What social, economic, and political purposes did dynasties serve?
 How did the De Medici dynasty established itself and evolved? How did it manage to remain in
control for so long? Who were the most notable members of this dynasty and why?
 What was their role in artistic and scientific developments?
RENAISSANCE III
 Consequences of concentration of wealth and political power:
 How and why wealth concentrated in a few hands?
 How did this concentration change the relationship between wealthy people and the Church?
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 Was challenges did concentration of wealth pose to church authority?
 What were the social and political consequences of concentration of wealth in the 14th century?
 How did banking and wealthy individuals change the financial and social structure of city-states
during the Renaissance?
 City of Florence and the Renaissance
 Why Florence as the epicenter for the so-called Italian Renaissance?
 What was the city like in the late 1300s and early 1400s?
 Who ordered the city built and why?
 Who (dynasty) controlled the city in the 14th century?
The Medici Family/Dynasty: Rise and Fall
 Lorenzo de Medici
 Alessandro de Medici
 Cosimo de Medici
 Who were these people and what was their role in the Renaissance?
 What roles did they play in the creation of so-called Renaissance men?
 Why are they called patrons of the arts and the fathers of the Renaissance?
Famous Florentines (Medieval and Renaissance)
 Dante: bio, most famous works, ideas about church and Renaissance
 Machiavelli: famous writings, influence on politics, roles he played and the regional politics of
the times.
 Donatello:
 Boccaccio:
 Leonardo da Vinci: bio, relationship with the Medici’s, life and death.
 Michelangelo: bio, relationship with the Medici’s, life and death.
 Overall impact of their works in the development of art, architecture, literature, painting,
science, and political change
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Rise of Vernacular Forms
 The rise and failure of Neo-Latin
 Technological developments and the creation and spread of lingua-franca
 Production and dissemination of information (written form)
 Social and political impact of the rise of vernacular forms of language
End of Renaissance
 Overall impact of Renaissance
 Political order at end of Renaissance
 Economic order at the end of Renaissance
 Social order at end of Renaissance
 International climate (Imperial powers at end of Renaissance) Colonialism
Other topics:
 Italian City-States and Regions: Teacher’s Presentation on Teacherweb
 Social Stratification: new social classes (Teacher’s presentation on Teacherweb)
 Consequences of Commerce: see Teacher’s presentation on Teacherweb
 Italian Slavery: see Teacher’s presentation on Teacherweb
 Political Autonomy and the Church: see Teacher’s presentation on Teacherweb
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