Before the Renaissance
What two old European cultures does the word 'Renaissance' refer to?
Greece & Rome
How did Cosimo De Medici gain so much power?
He used the money he made from banking to bribe people in powerful places so that they would do what he wanted.
In what ways did Queen Elizabeth I have an affect on England?
Elizabeth's reign was known as a 'Golden Era,' in part because she, like the Medici family, valued the arts so much.
What was the first book printed using the Gutenberg printing press?
Bonus: (400 points) what was the first book printed using Chinese woodblock printing, and what was it about?
2. Nung Shu - was about Chinese inventions Europeans took credit for.
What was the period of time in Europe before the Renaissance called, and what was it like?
It was called the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, or Medieval Times. It was about 900 years with a lot of violence and not much progress.
In what way did Lorenzo De Medici expand on his father's work?
He created a sculpture garden that became a school for artists that they could live and practice in.
Ask Teacher Jay any question about the Renaissance that we've talked about in class at some points - it can be from notes, side conversations, or your project. If I can't answer it correctly, and you can, you get 2,000 points.
Explain the difference between Chinese woodblock printing and Gutenberg's movable-type printing.
Chinese woodblock printing involves carving each page you want to print into a block of wood, then printing those specific pages. Gutenberg's printer allowed each letter to be rearranged in order to print different books and pages.
How did the fall of Constantinople help start the Renaissance?
The fall of the city caused a bunch of scholars to flee with old Greek & Roman books, bringing them mainly to Italy.
What did Martin Luther write, and what was the main focus of his writing?
He wrote the 95 Theses, which was about indulgences and how the church was taking people's money in unfair and unjust ways, leading to a worse society.
Explain what the Protestant Reformation was, and how it affected all of Europe.
The Protestant Reformation was the breaking of the Catholic Church under the Pope into many different branches of Christianity. It affected Europe because about half of Europe became Protestant, while the other half remained Catholic, resulting in a variety of different religions that were competing with each other.
You travel back in time to the year 1,000. Thinking about our timeline of inventions, what are two things that suddenly don't exist that you can't imagine life without?
Anything related to computers, indoor cooling, most sports we play, etc.
Who were the Medici family and how did they help start the Renaissance? Give at least three ways.
They were a powerful family in Florence, Italy that made their money from banking. They helped start the Renaissance by opening a public library, paying artists to make art, and supporting architects that were otherwise unpopular.
In what ways did William Shakespeare challenge the old world order?
He wrote about monarchs as though they were real, flawed people, challenging that idea that Kings and Queens were 'perfect.'
He also challenged basic ideas that people were either 'good' or 'bad.'
Name three major ways that the Gutenberg Printing Press changed Europe.
Gutenberg's printing press made people learn how to read, increasing literacy rates. Because of this, it increased education. It also allowed people to read books like the Bible for the first time, causing them to challenge the Catholic Church.
Invent a Question! Create a question about anything that we've talked about in class. The question will randomly be given to two groups, and anyone who answers it will get 700 points.
Answers will vary.
What were two ways the Bubonic Plague helped cause the Renaissance?
The plague caused there to be far fewer people, which meant more land and money for those left alive.
The plague was also very brutal, and made people want a change in the way things were.
Cosimo started the idea of 'dark money,' or bribing politicians. He was known to be ruthless, and controlled many powerful positions. He also funded the arts, opened a public library, and supported people searching to educate themselves.
Think back to our timeline that we created, in which we researched when different things were first made. What aspect of the Renaissance, in your opinion, is most responsible for causing the rapid increase in technology & civilization complexity that we've seen in the last 500 years of human history? Use at least three examples.
What is one Renaissance invention that you feel transformed the world, and still affects the world we live in today? Explain your thinking.
There are many possible answers.