Between 1350 and 1550, Italian intellectuals believed they were living in a new age based on rebirth of the culture of the Greeks and Romans. Intellectuals and artists proclaimed a new vision of humankind and raised questions about the value of the individual. The brilliant intellectual, bultural, and artistic accomplishments of the Renaissance were really products of and for the elite and did not have a broad base among the masses of the people. However, the intellectual revolution gave way to a religious reformation that touched the lives of all people in profound ways.
Students will be able to:
Describe humanism.
Analyze what methods Renaissance artists used to make their work natural and real.
Explain why the Church was pressured to reform.
Explain how the Reformation influenced England.
Trace the establishment of Portugal’s trading network in Africa and India.
Explain the results of Columbus’ voyages.
Identify later European explorations of the Americas and their effect on Europe’s worldview.
Identify important theories advanced by Greek scientists.
Examine contributions to scientific and mathematical knowledge by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars in the Middle Ages.
Explain how humanism and global exploration led to the Scientific Revolution.
Identify the reasons for the French Revolution.
Explain how Napoleon rose to power.
Compare pre- and post-Industrial Revolution society.