Exploration and Knowledge Questions
1. Page 88 in the Worldviews: Contact and Change textbook states, “Merchants and bankers as well as humanists came to believe that strong leadership was the solution.”Why did they value leadership in society so strongly?
They valued leadership so strongly because they believed it would bring peace and stability to allow businesses and art to prosper
2. Complete the statement by providing an appropriate ideal: “Civic humanists encouraged people to >” (Look back at page 65 as well for additional information to answer this question.)
Civic humanists encouraged people to educate themselves about political issues and work to improve society.
3. Why was Isabella D’Este known as the “first lady of the world?”
She was called a lady because she was married to a duke, and she had a brilliant mind. She would rule the city-state in her husband’s absence.
4. Read the excerpt by Isabella D’Este on page 88 of the text.How does this quotation prove that D’Este was concerned about the common good?
She wanted to listen to all the people, not just the officials. She didn’t want her subjects to suffer.
5. Because Machiavelli introduced new conclusions about government, civil service, leadership, and power, many call him the world’s first > (two words). Political Scientist
6. Machiavelli coined the famous phrase, “the end justifies the means.”This means that if a person gets what he wants in the end, it does not matter how he went about getting it.For example, Christine knew she had cheated, but she was pleased that she achieved the top mark on the Renaissance exam, so she thought it didn’t matter how she got it. Imagine yourself first as a Machiavellian supporter and then as a Machiavellian critic.Complete the chart below by using Machiavelli’s ideas to provide two points that defend Christine’s actions and two points that criticize Christine’s actions.An example has been given to help you get started.
Machiavelli: Christine’s actions were Right / Machiavelli: Christine’s actions were WrongExample: Christine achieved the outcome she wanted.What’s wrong with that? / Example: Christine achieved the outcome she wanted.What’s wrong with that?
Point #1: She was able to get a top mark on the assignment / She cheated for her top mark
Point #2: her goal was to get a good mark and she accomplished her goal. / She did not do all the work herself, so she doesn’t deserve the mark.
7. List three adjectives that Machiavelli used to describe human nature.Do you agree with his thoughts about people?Why or why not?
Three adjectives that Machiavelli used to describe human nature are ungrateful, fickle and deceivers. I do not agree with this as not every person is like that. Some people are good by nature.
8. Compare and contrast Isabella D’Este’s and Niccolo Machiavelli’s ideas about leadership in society.Complete the chart below by providing three similarities and three differences between their opinions.An example has been given to help you get started.
Similarities between Isabella D’Este and Niccolo Machiavelli / Differences between Isabella D’Este and Niccolo MachiavelliExample:Both Este and Machiavelli had their own set of political views that they strongly believed in. / Example: D’Este’s ideas were considered more positive than Machiavelli’s ideas, which are still controversial today.
Similarity #1: Both were strong leaders / Difference #1 D’est was admired by her subjects
Similarity #2 Both had strong opinions of right and wrong / Difference #2 Machiavelli was controversial
Similarity #3 Both enjoyed political life / Difference #3 D’est liked people and thought well of others
9.Explain why the Catholic Church included both Machiavelli’s The Prince and Galileo’s writings in the Church’s Index of Prohibited Books?
Both Machiavelli’s The Prince and Galileo’s writings were controversial as they went against teaching of the church.
10. In your own words, describe what it means to refer to a person as being “Machiavellian?”Give an example of someone you would call Machiavellian and explain your reasoning. A Machiavellian person is a person who tried to gain power through any means. An example of this is the Joker from Batman, since he killed and hurt people to gain power.
11.Did author Maurizioi Viroli agree or disagree with the commonly accepted opinions about Machiavelli?Why or why not?
Maurizioi Viroli agreed with Machiavelli, however he thought that Machiavelli was misunderstood.
12.Machiavelli once wrote that, “a leader must be like a lion and a fox.”What do you think he meant and why did he refer to these two animals in particular? A lion is a strong animal and a fox is a sly animal. This means that a good leader would have the same traits.
13. Define “allegory.”
“An allegory is a work in which the characters and events are meant to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral or political meaning.”
14. Provide three ways a government may serve its people positively and three ways that a government may serve the population negatively.An example of each has been given to help you get started (see chart below).
A Responsible and Positive Government May… / An Irresponsible and Negative Government May…Example:A positive government may provide its people with basic services, such as healthcare and education. / Example: A negative government may spend the tax payers’ money foolishly and irresponsibly.
Positive Point #1: being fair / Negative Point #1: greedy
Positive Point #2: preventing suffering / Negative Point #2: deceitful
Positive Point #3: promote prosperity / Negative Point #3: no consideration of the people
15. Why was Girolamo Savonarola so controversial? What happened to him? He was a monk who fought against corruption in the church. He was excommunicated from the church.
16. What were Savonarola's criticisms of the church? Why do you think some church officials wanted to silence Savonarola? He accused the pope of corruption. He encouraged people to burn things that took their attention from God. The church did not want their ways questioned
17. What are indulgences? Indulgences are certificates sold by the church that were intended to reduce how much time a person would be punished for their sins after they died.
18. Martin Luther knew that publishing his Ninety-Five Theses would force a confrontation between himself and the church. Why might he have wanted this confrontation?
He wanted people to pay attention to the fact that some of the things the chur4ch did were wrong. He welcomed the chance to debate his opinion.
19. Compare (similarities) and contrast (differences) between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
Protestant Reformation / Catholic Counter-ReformationObjected to the teachings of the Catholic church / Objected to some of the teachings of the Catholic church
Felt the Catholic church was completely wrong / Felt only a need to change some things in the Catholic church
Started a new church or religion / Removed corruption in the church
Rejected the authority of the Pope / Maintained the authority of the Pope
20. Name 5 advantages of the printing press.
1. print quickly, 2. print more cheaply, 3. increased literacy 4. used paper not parchment 5. books were printed in the vernacular (everyday language)
21.How did the printing press help to spread the western worldview? More people had access to books and information, and more people became literate. Knowledge and ideas spread quickly across Europe.
22. How has the internet changed our worldview? The internet has provided an opportunity for sharing of information around the world on a variety of topics. It places an amazing amount of information at any person’s fingertips.
23. List (in the chart below) 5 advantages and 5 drawbacks of internet use in Canada?
24. The Renaissance was an exciting – and sometimes dangerous – time to live. People were willing to go to prison and even die for the sake of ideas they considered important. It was a time when powerful new ideas and knowledge challenged the traditional world order.
Using a graphic organizer like the one below (or something you come up with on your own), list changes the exchange of ideas in science, leadership, religion and the arts.
25. Why were monarchs willing to finance the risky expeditions of the explorers at this time?
Monarchs wanted to expand their kingdoms and make a profit through trade and finding gold and silver. There was also a desire to spread Christianity.
26.Using the information on pages 110-117, complete the chart below by outlining what the motivation was behind European expansion and exploration.
Exploring to Expand….Gold Supply / All the coins were gold and silver. Gold coins were the most valuable. Coins were the only form of money. European mines were running out of gold and silver.
Christianity / There was a desire to spread Christianity. They felt they were following Jesus’ wishes by spreading Christianity across the world.
Known World / Little was known about the world beyond Europe. Foreign places seemed very exotic and mysterious.
Navigational Technology / There was a desire to get better technology for navigation and to create more accurate maps. As they explored more of the world, the navigational technology improved and voyages became more successful.