Renaissance Basics
What does the word “Renaissance” mean?
“Rebirth”
Name one factor that helped start the Renaissance.
Trade, printing press, rediscovery of Greek and Roman ideas, humanism, or changes after the Black Death.
Name one famous Renaissance artist.
Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, or Raphael.
Which invention made books cheaper and easier to share?
The printing press.
True or False: Renaissance art became more realistic than medieval art.
True
On which continent did the Renaissance begin?
Europe
How did trade help Italian cities grow rich?
They traded goods with other places (like Asia), bringing in money and new ideas.
Name one famous Renaissance scientist or inventor.
Galileo Galilei or Leonardo da Vinci.
How did the printing press change who could learn to read?
Books were cheaper and more common, so many more people could buy them and learn to read.
Name one way Renaissance artists made their paintings look more realistic.
Using perspective, shading and light, or carefully studying real people and nature.
In which country did the Renaissance start?
Italy
What happened to feudalism as towns grew and trade increased: stronger or weaker?
It grew weaker.
Which famous artist painted the Mona Lisa?
Leonardo da Vinci.
What older cultures’ ideas were rediscovered during the Renaissance?
Greek and Roman.
What subjects did Renaissance thinkers and artists study more because of humanism?
Human bodies, nature, history, literature, and everyday life.
Name one important Italian city during the Renaissance (example answers accepted).
Florence, Venice, or Rome
How did the Black Death help weaken feudalism?
Many workers died, so surviving peasants could demand better pay and more freedom.
Which family in Florence was known for supporting artists and thinkers with their money?
The Medici family
What is humanism?
A way of thinking that focuses on humans and their abilities, talents, and learning, not only on religion.
Why is the Renaissance called a “rebirth” of learning?
It brought back interest in art, science, and ideas from ancient Greece and Rome and led to many new discoveries.
Was the Renaissance before or after the Middle Ages, and why is that important?
After the Middle Ages; it marks a new time of art, science, and learning.
Explain how changes after the Black Death and growth of cities together helped lead to the Renaissance.
Weaker feudalism and richer cities meant more freedom, money, and chances for new ideas and art to grow.
Why were patrons (rich supporters) important for artists and writers?
They paid them, giving them time and money to create and experiment.
How did rediscovering Greek and Roman books change the way people thought?
It encouraged people to question, observe, and use reason, instead of just accepting old traditions.
Explain how art, science, and ideas were connected during the Renaissance.
Explain how art, science, and ideas were connected during the Renaissance.