Renaissance Trade and Commerce section 2

What was one major reason for the cultural flowering during the Renaissance?

• The decline of religious influence

• The growth of trade and commerce

• The fall of the Roman Empire

• The rise of military power

How did the Crusades contribute to European development starting in the 11th century?

• They led to the fall of Constantinople

• They decreased European population

• They strengthened contacts between Western Europe and Byzantine/Muslim cultures

• They ended all trade with the East

What impact did the Mongol conquests have on trade in the 13th century?

• They completely blocked the Silk Road

• They made travel along the Silk Road safer

• They eliminated all trade with China

• They created new trade routes through Africa

Which Italian traveler's tales increased European interest in the East?

• Christopher Columbus

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Giovanni Caboto

• Marco Polo

Which cities became major trading centers in Italy during the Renaissance?

• Rome and Milan

• Florence and Pisa

• Venice and Genoa

• Naples and Palermo

How did goods reach England and Scandinavia during the Renaissance?

• Through the English Channel and Baltic/North seas

• Through the Mediterranean Sea only

• Through land routes exclusively

• Through the Atlantic Ocean only

What economic change occurred during the Renaissance?

• The elimination of all trade

• A return to feudal systems

• A shift from bartering to a money economy

• The end of international commerce

What role did money changers serve in Renaissance commerce?

• They stored goods for merchants

• They converted different types of currency

• They transported goods between cities

• They collected taxes for the government

Which groups became more important in Renaissance society?

• Farmers and peasants

• Craftspeople, merchants, and bankers

• Knights and nobles

• Clergy and monks

How did wealthy merchants impact Renaissance cities?

• They moved away to rural areas

• They decreased city populations

• They made cities more beautiful and supported education

• They closed down trading centers