Florence and the Renaissance

Why is Florence often called the “cradle of the Renaissance”?

• Many artists in Florence were young.

• The Renaissance required a lot of money.

• Most children in Florence had many talents.

• The culture of the Renaissance was centered there.

Which building in Florence do tourists visit because a famous author lived there?

• Casa di Dante

• Palazzo Medici

• Palazzo Vecchio

• Santa Maria del Fiore

During the Renaissance, Florence was the European center for

• farming.

• banking.

• shipping.

• sword making.

What geographical feature helped Florence become a trade center?

• the Black Sea

• the Arno River

• the Danube Plain

• the Apennine Mountains

What was the relation between the industries of Florence and its culture?

• Great artists often became merchants.

• Business owners studied art and music.

• Wealthy patrons sponsored many artists.

• Brilliant scholars became rich by writing books.

What were most palazzi like?

• strong castles with thick walls for defense

• collections of shops similar to a modern mall

• wealthy townhomes built around central courtyards

• narrow old buildings still standing from ancient times

The architect Brunelleschi studied mathematics and ancient ruins. Then he designed a remarkable ____.

• arched gate in the city wall.

• bridge lined with busy shops.

• tower with a view of the city.

• dome with no internal supports.

What was an important advance by Renaissance painters such as Botticelli?

• creating an appearance of depth

• contrasting light and dark colors

• showing calm and peaceful faces

• telling religious stories in pictures

How are Donatello's and Michelangelo's statue of David similar to medieval sculpture?

• They are smaller than real people.

• They can be viewed from all sides.

• They show a figure from the Bible.

• They convey personality and mood.

What important change made literature more popular during the Renaissance than it had been before?

• Writers wrote in their own languages.

• Writers wrote about religious topics.

• People believed that reading led to salvation.

• People believed that reading led to financial success.