The Renaissance Quiz

What is the best definition of the Renaissance?

• An explosion of new technology based on Chinese ideas.

• The rebuilding of great classical architecture like the Colosseum.

• The rebirth of Greek and Roman ideas and new discoveries in art, literature, and science.

• A Scientific Revolution in physics and astronomy.

• A reorganization of the Catholic Church which resulted in important literature.

During the Renaissance, people became more interested in ____ ideas, which mean they were more interested in this world than religion.

• Religious

• Private

• Greek

• Urban

• Secular

Which of the following is NOT true of why the Renaissance began in Italy?

• The Italian City-States were very wealthy from trade.

• It was because Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo lived in Italy.

• Italy had been the center of the old Roman Empire.

• City-states competed with each other to produce masterpieces.

• Large numbers of people lived in urban centers (cities) and could share ideas.

What was the effect of Marco Polo's book, Il Milione (The Millions), also known as The Travels of Marco Polo?

• Trade with West African Kingdoms increased.

• The Islamic Ottoman Empire lost power.

• Merchants in Venice obtained a bad reputation because Marco Polo was from Venice.

• Interest in Chinese goods increased leading to growth of trade in Italy's city-states.

• His book was widely unpopular and was banned for 100 years.

Complete the sentence: The city-state of Florence's wealth came from trading textiles and from ____.

• banking
• Metal products

• Porcelain

• Spices

What role did the wealthy Medici family play in Renaissance Florence?

• They painted some of the greatest artworks of the Renaissance, such as the Mona Lisa.

• They had no role in controlling the city of Florence.

• They were patrons, or paid for artists and architects with their great wealth bringing fame to Florence.

• They united all of the city-states of Northern Italy with their powerful military.

Which idea about leadership would diplomat and writer Niccolo Machiavelli most likely support?

• Leaders should do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals, even if that means being feared.

• Leaders should fight against discrimination and intolerance.

• Leaders should listen to the desires of the people.

• Elected leaders should be fair and focused on equality.

• Leaders should make sure wealth is shared equally between rich and poor.

What did humanism believe and encourage men to do? Select all that apply.

• To be active in their cities and achieve great things.

• To abandon religious faith for secular ideas.

• To focus only on religion and faith in God.

• To use reason to understand the world in addition to religious faith.

• To stay away from studying history or science.

Which of the following is an example of Renaissance achievement in architecture and engineering (building)?

• Shakespeare's famous work Hamlet which was acted in the Globe Theatre

• Brunelleschi's building of the dome of the Florence Cathedral

• The collection of books brought to the Vatican Library

• Leonardo da Vinci dissecting corpses to understand anatomy

Educated people wrote in Latin, but when writers wanted to reach more people, they wrote in the ________, or the everyday language of a region.

• Vernacular
• Latin

• Calligraphy

• Hieroglyphics