REN - Renaissance And Exploration Module Overview

Renaissance And Exploration

Introduction

Painting of Primavera by Sandro Botticelli

In the 1800s, historian Jacob Burckhardt designated the Renaissance as a break from the Middle Ages, one that was necessary and positive to move culture forward. His work, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, was the first to effectively study the culture of the Renaissance. In that work, and since then, many have come to find the Renaissance as the period that represents the modernization of Europe - its ideals, politics, society, and culture served to shape European History into the present.

The very essence of the Renaissance lifestyle was the emphasis on the accomplishment and value of the individual. The ideas of the Renaissance developed from the rediscovery of Ancient Greek and Roman works as well as observation of the natural world.  The Medieval blind obedience to authority, particularly to the Church, becomes less and less a factor in Renaissance society and mores. The emphasis shifts from religious preoccupation to secular values. Visual arts of the time no longer focused solely on religious subjects, but rather, incorporated other goals, both personal and political. Once the Renaissance values and ideals took a strong hold on the Italian city-states, the movement began to spread throughout Northern and Western Europe. While the spread of Renaissance ideals is typically labeled as a separate period (Northern Renaissance,) it is just a continuation of the Italian movement. There is one significant characteristic of the Northern Renaissance which sets it apart from the Italian version: a stronger emphasis on religion and less of an interest in the classical cultures. The humanism practiced in the North was dubbed Christian Humanism. The Christian Humanists used the same techniques in studying the accomplishments of man (analysis of classical writings, languages, and style,) but much of their study was dedicated to reforming the church and its practices. It espoused the belief that, through education, man could bring about the fundamental changes needed to restore the church to its original intent. 

During the period of the Renaissance, European countries began to explore and settle overseas territories. These endeavors were motivated by both religious and commercial motives. The introduction of new materials from these efforts helped to shape economic capitalism in Europe. While there continued to be commercial and economic growth, European political structure also changed as the idea of a sovereign state and non-religious systems helped to create new political institutions.

 

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • In the Beginning... -  Life in Europe during the Middle Ages and how it led to the Renaissance.
  • Italian & Northern Renaissance - After the Middle Ages, a new spirit of art, culture, and learning flourished in Italy. It eventually spreads to the rest of Europe.
  • New Monarchies - Leaders move to consolidate power and restructure their societies.
  • Printing, Technological Advances, and the Age of Exploration - New technologies radically change Europe, and pave the way for exploration beyond its borders.
  • Rivals on the World Stage, Colonial Expansion, and Columbian Exchange - Many European powers begin to come into conflict with one another as they start to explore the world. Spain and Portugal are the two most notable examples of this. As Europeans expand their reach they introduce new crops, livestock, and diseases into the areas they touch.
  • The Slave Trade and the Commercial Revolution - Expansion opened new markets, new farming practices ... and demands for new forms of labor.

 

Essential Questions

  • How did the revival of classical texts contribute to the Renaissance in Italy?
  • What were the political, intellectual, and cultural effects of the Italian Renaissance?
  • How were Renaissance ideas developed, maintained, and changed as the Renaissance spread to northern Europe?
  • What was the influence of the printing press on cultural and intellectual developments in modern European history?
  • What were the causes and effects of the development of political institutions from 1450 to 1648?
  • What were the technological factors that facilitated European exploration and expansion from 1450 to 1648?
  • What were the motivations and effects of European exploration and expansion from 1450 – 1648?
  • How and why did trading networks and colonial expansion affect relations between and among European states?
  • What was the economic impact of European colonial expansion and development of trade networks?
  • What were the causes for and the development of the slave trade?
  • What were European commercial and agricultural developments and what were their economic effects from 1450 – 1648?

 

Textbook Assignment and Unit Review Form

As you work through this module, be certain to read the Renaissance and Exploration chapters in your textbook. As you are reading, you may wish to jot down notes in the unit review form. Please pay close attention to the cultural and political changes that take place during the Renaissance. This is for your notes, not to submit.

Download a copy of the unit review form here. Links to an external site.

 

Question Mark IconYou will also notice questions at the end of some lessons. They will be marked with a question icon like the one to the left. For now, these questions are ungraded but will give you an opportunity to work on analysis - a skill  you will need on the exam and in future history courses. Use the textbook and other resources to answer the questions that accompany the lessons and keep them in your notes to review.

 

Key Terms and People

There are several people and items you need to look over for this module. Be sure to download the ID list (linked below) - EVEN if you do not plan on defining them for your notes. This is for your notes, not to submit. You need to look over the list of terms to see what you will need to pay particular attention to in this module.

Download a copy of the ID List for this module here. Links to an external site.

The presentation below is helpful in seeing some of the more important people and terms but is by no means a definitive list.

 

 

 

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