THE RENAISSANCE AND HUMANISM
NAME: ______
Access the various Web sites to answer the following questions:
Locate the Annenberg CPB Exhibit on “The Renaissance at:
- The word “Renaissance” is French for ______.
Select “Explore the Renaissance.”
- Why did the plague lead to an economic depression in Europe?
- How did the change in population affect the middle class?
Select “Read more about the New Middle Class and the Resurgence of Cities.”
- What “desires of the middle class stimulated the economy” during the Renaissance?
- Why did education become essential during the Renaissance?
- List two pastimes the middle class enjoyed during the Renaissance.
- Which family was the most powerful in Florence during the Renaissance?
Click on the following link:
Once you are on the link, scroll down to pg. 4 on “Humanism”
- How was humanism “secular”?
9. Who was the first Humanist?
10. What were the writings of Humanists Dante and Erasmus about?
Click on the following link to return to the website we were looking at earlier:
Now click on “Printing and Thinking” on the Left column of the page.
When Gutenberg invented the printing press he forever changed the lives of people in Europe, and eventually all over the world.
11. Why did the creation of the printing press make it possible for me people to have access to books?
Read the section “Humanism Emerges”
12. What was the focus of scholars during the Middle Ages?
13. Humanists looked to which civilizations for inspiration?
Now click on the link, “How thinking changed in the Middle Ages”
Read the section, “The Humanist Philosophy”
14. What did the Humanists believe about education and wealth?
15. How were the beliefs of the Humanist different from the beliefs of the church?
Read the section “Spiritual Matters”
16. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses. What was this list?
17. Specifically, Luther did not like the selling of indulgences. What was this practice?
Humanism in Art: Michelangelo
Go to the following website
For four years Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, which is still considered one of the greatest works of art in the world. Look around for a minute using the virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel to look at some of the artwork.
18. How is this artwork different from Medieval Artwork? (If you need to, google “Medieval Artwork”)
19. Why do you think that Michelangelo is a good example of humanist artwork?