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What does the word “Renaissance” mean, and which language does it come from?
It means “rebirth,” and it comes from French.
What word describes a society becoming more focused on worldly life rather than only religious matters?
Secular.
What ancient empire had once been centered in Italy, leaving behind ruins that constantly reminded Italians of their past?
The Roman Empire.
Who is the pope?
Church leader.
What is diplomacy?
The practice of negotiating relationships between states, often through ambassadors.
In one sentence, what is the main idea behind why Italy never became one united kingdom in the Middle Ages?
Italy's location made its city-states wealthy from trade and banking, but that same wealth and division meant many cities fell under strong individual rulers instead of uniting.
Roughly what years does the Italian Renaissance cover?
Roughly 1350 to 1550 (some say up to 1600).
What new belief did people begin to hold about their own power to shape the world?
That the individual mattered — that one person could personally make a difference and change things for the better.
Humanism
By the 1300s, what allowed Italian cities to start paying painters, sculptors, and architects for new work?
The cities had grown wealthy enough (largely through trade) to afford it.
Patron
What are city-states?
An independent, self-governing city that functions like its own small country, with its own government, army, and economy.
Which powerful religious institution actively worked to stop any single Italian kingdom from rising?
The Roman Catholic Church — it feared a powerful king could then control the pope.
Renaissance thinkers looked back to which two ancient civilizations for inspiration in art and learning?
Ancient Greece and ancient Rome.
True or false: as Renaissance society became more secular, people abandoned religion entirely.
False — people remained deeply religious, but also began celebrating human achievement in this life.
How did competition between Italy's city-states help spark the Renaissance?
Rival cities pushed each other to outdo one another in art and learning.
Since no single city-state could ever defeat all the others, how would you describe the military balance among them?
They were roughly equal in strength.
What devastating event, right before the Renaissance began, pushed Europeans to look to the past for ways to improve their society?
The Black Death (the plague).
Why did Italy's unusually high level of urban living matter for the growth of art?
More people living together in cities meant more customers, more money for art, and more exchange of ideas.
What is exchange of ideas?
More people living together in Italy's unusually urban cities meant more customers, more money for art, and more of this.
What is vernacular?
The everyday, common language spoken by ordinary people — as opposed to formal Latin.
Italy was shaped like a _____
boot
Name any two Italian cities that appear on the Renaissance map.
Any two of: Ferrara, Florence, Genoa, Lucca, Mantua, Milan, Modena, Two Sicilies, Papal States, Siena, Venice.
What is urbanization (being unusually urban)?
Besides wealth and competition, this unusual demographic feature of Italian cities meant more customers and more exchange of ideas.
What are mercenaries?
Soldiers who fight for money, hired by wealthy city-states to build their armies.
What is a diplomat?
A person who represents their city or country in dealings with other states.
What is a Republic
A form of government controlled by its citizens rather than a king.