Causes of the Renaissance
What invention helped spread the ideas of the Renaissance throughout Europe?
The printing press spread the ideas of the Renaissance throughout Europe.
Who developed the technique of perspective in painting?
Brunelleschi and Alberti invented the technique of perspective.
Which city state is considered the cradle of the Renaissance? Which city state is called the "jewel of the Adriatic?"
Who are the two major artists of the Renaissance?
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are the two major artists of the Renaissance.
According to Castiliogne, what were the qualities of the ideal courtier?
The ideal courtier was one of noble birth and was strong, brave, graceful, and handsome.
What ancient civilization was once centered in Rome, Italy?
The Ancient Roman civilization was once centered in Rome, Italy.
In what ways did the status of artists increase during the Renaissance?
Artists began taking credit and charging higher fees for their work.
Why were city-states considered politically independent?
Each city-state had its own ruling government.
What are da Vinci and Michelangelo's most famous works of art?
Leonardo da Vinci painted The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Michelangelo sculpted David, the Pieta, and Pope Julius II's tomb. He also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the wall behind the altar. The painting behind the altar is called The Last Judgment.
Who was Miguel de Cervantes, and what did he write?
Cervantes was a Spanish writer, famous for the novel The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha. The story describes a foolish knight and his escapades.
What kind of literature did the Humanists study during the Renaissance period?
The Humanists studied classical (Greek and Roman) manuscripts. The Humanists reprinted those manuscripts on a mass scale and created their own literature and art based on the ideas of the Greeks and Romans.
Define commission
v., to formally ask for the creation of something, as in a building or a painting.
How did Florence and Venice build their wealth?
Florence and Venice built their wealth through trade. Florence's wealth depended on the wool and banking industries. Venice managed a very large trading empire; they traded with the Middle and Far East. Venetians resold those items to other Europeans.
What was da Vinci's importance to the Renaissance?
He demonstrated that one person could succeed in many fields. He showed that knowledge of one field could be applied to another. For example, his knowledge of the science of perspective and his observation of the human body made his painting more lifelike.
What was The Prince, and what did it discuss?
The Prince is a book by Niccolo Machiavelli. The book argues that a ruler should be whatever is necessary to maintain power. Machiavelli believed that, in general, a ruler should be honest, but in times of trouble he may need to go back on his word. He thought that acting boldly was more valuable than keeping every promise.
Muslim scholars lived in places that used to belong to the Greeks. Many of them brought Greek manuscripts to city-states in Italy, such as Florence and Venice, when the Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Turks.
How does perspective make art more realistic?
Perspective makes something that is flat, like a painting, appear to have depth.
Compare and contrast Florence and Venice's forms of government.
Florence had a republic. Leading families in Florence chose government officials out of a bag (the only names placed in the bag were those of prominent citizens). Venice was also a republic. The Great Council, made up of members of only 200 families, chose government officials. The doge, who served for life, was the symbolic leader of Venice. He did not have any true power.
Why did Michelangelo take so long to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo was working under difficult conditions. When he finished working for the day, his back and neck ached. He was also working by himself, and it was a huge space to paint.
What was Shakespeare's contribution to the Renaissance?
Shakespeare wrote plays and poems. Like many Renaissance artists, he based several of his stories on classical legends and history.
Why did Italy become so wealthy through trade?
Italy was in a good position to profit from trade. It is a boot-shaped peninsula, jutting into the Mediterranean Sea. Some city-states, like Florence, sold their goods, such as wool, to other European countries. Other city-states, like Venice, traded their goods for goods from places, like the Middle and Far East, which they resold for higher profit. Merchants would spend their money supporting the arts and education.
Most musicians, sculptors, and painters of the Middle Ages did not sign their work or get individual recognition for what they created. Today, artists are given credit for the things they paint, sculpt, write, etc.
Why was shipbuilding such an important industry in Venice?
Venice is a city made up of islands on the Adriatic Sea. This meant that trade and travel were largely conducted by ship. The shipbuilding industry grew as demand for trade ships increased. Venice's need to build a navy for defense also helped bolster the shipbuilding industry.
What does the art of Michelangelo created tell us about the Roman Catholic Church at this time in history?
How did the ideas of the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe?