Ideas Change the World

As a result of the Renaissance, many European political powers were able to —

• build an alliance against the Ottomans

• take control of trade in the Indian Ocean

• establish large overseas colonial empires

• eliminate the power of the Catholic Church

Which description best reflects the relationship between religion and the secular world during the Renaissance?

• Protestant emphasis on the individual’s personal relationship with God was reflected in the size of new churches being built.

• Renewed interest in the Classical Greek and Roman texts led to closer ties between the Catholic Church and secular institutions.

• The relationship between politics and religion became strained, and the political influence of the Catholic Church weakened.

• Humanist writers and philosophers whose ideas fostered individual expression and intellectual freedom supported the Catholic Church.

How did the Reformation change the political composition of Europe?

• The Pope became the political advisor to many European monarchs

• Eastern Europe became vulnerable to the advances of the Ottomans

• Monarchies were overthrown and Protestant theocracies were created

• Nobles aligned with either Catholic or Protestant traditions and went to war

Which new approach to scientific thought is illustrated in the excerpt?

• Rejecting religious teachings about the physical world

• Employing laboratories to confirm the results of theories

• Using direct observation instead of relying on previous beliefs

• Adhering to the practices passed down by the Greeks and Romans

What economic change in Europe during the Renaissance facilitated the flourishing of art that characterized the time period?

• Introduction of paper currency that was in higher demand by artists

• Creation of a barter system that allowed artists to trade more easily

• Growth of a merchant class with additional income used to patron the arts

• Development of government programs that paid for the education of artists

How did Gutenberg's invention of the printing press contribute to the Reformation?

• Maps could be updated and printed more regularly to improve navigation

• Universities used printing presses to create huge libraries

• The Bible was printed in vernacular languages leading to greater criticism of the Church

• The Catholic Church printed messages from the Pope encouraging missionaries to travel and gain converts

Which sixteenth century Italian literary work is still studied today for its insights on political power?

• The Prince

• Julius Caesar

• Canterbury Tales

• The Praise of Folly

Which action most contributed to the onset of the Scientific Revolution in sixteenth-century Europe?

• Invention of the new methods of accounting

• Creation of a navigation school by Prince Henry

• Introduction of new products from the Americas

• Publication of new theories related to astronomy

Which sixteenth century scientist proposed the heliocentric theory which was later supported by Galileo?

• Robert Boyle

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Isaac Newton

• Eli Whitney

In what way does the painting illustrate advances that were being made during the Renaissance?

• The subjects are both trained navigators

• Many pictured items were discovered in the Americas

• Two globes and navigational instruments are pictured

• Influences from Greek and Roman architecture can be seen