Life Before the Renaissance
What was the time period called before the Renaissance?
The Middle Ages (Medieval Times)
What was the Silk Road?
A trade route connecting Europe and Asia
What caused the Black Death?
Bacteria spread by fleas on rats that spread through the trade and silk road interactions.
What does the word “Renaissance” mean?
Rebirth
Who painted the Mona Lisa?
Leonardo da Vinci
What was the main organization that held power and influence during the Middle Ages?
The Roman Catholic Church
What was one luxury item commonly traded along the silk road?
Silk, spices, precious stones, gold
Around what years did the Black Death hit Europe?
Mid 1300's
Which three Italian city-states became centers of Renaissance culture?
Florence, Venice, Genoa
Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo
Most people in the Middle Ages lived and worked on land owned by a lord, what type of system was this?
Why was the silk road important for the Renaissance?
It helped spread goods, ideas, and cultures that inspired change in Europe
What percentage of Europe’s population died from the plague?
25-50 percent
What powerful family ruled Florence and supported many artists?
Medici Family
What invention helped spread new ideas and books quickly across Europe?
The Printing Press
What was the system called where people pledged loyalty to a lord in exchange for land and protection?
Feudalism
What city an Italy became wealthy from controlling trade between Europe and the East?
Venice, Florence, or Genoa
How did the Black Death change life in Europe?
It caused labor shortages, weakened feudalism, and changed attitudes about life and death.
What made Italy the perfect place for the Renaissance to begin?
Its wealth from trade, location, and influence of ancient Roman ideas.
Who invented the printing press?
Johannes Gutenberg
Why did towns and trade begin to grow again at the end of the Middle AGes?
There was an increase in interactions between cultures due to the crusades, thus reviving cities and markets.
How did the fall of Constantinople in 1453 affect trade in Europe?
It cut off land routes to Asia, leading Europeans to search for sea routes and exploration.
How did the Black Death help lead to the Renaissance?
With fewer workers, people gained more freedom and wealth, leading to new ideas and creativity.
What was humanism?
A belief that focused on human potential, reason, and individual achievement rather than religion alone.
Which Renaissance thinker wrote about humanism and the value of studying classical works?
Petrarch