Renaissance

Renaissance contributed to the opening for the mind in Europe because during the Renaissance, people suggested, founded and embraced new ideas. Some ideas were embraced even though they were secular. The Renaissance, the time after the Middle Ages, which means ‘rebirth’ was a period of time when art and literature flourished because of the new ideas. It lasted from the 14th - 17th century. The ‘eyes and the minds’ in Europe were opened during this time. For example, the idea of heliocentric universe was founded by Copernicus and people accepted it other than the idea of geocentric universe. The discovery of the New World was also important to the Renaissance. Christopher Columbus founded America during this time. Another idea that really contributed to the Renaissance was Humanism- a cultural and educational reform, that started with not much patronage. These ideas contributed to the opening of the mind in Europe because through this information or belief, people became much more knowledgeable. It developed not only Italy and Europe, but it developed the world itself. The Renaissance, ‘rebirth’, opened the minds in Europe because so many ideas were founded and people embraced them.
 * How did the Renaissance contribute to the opening of the mind in Europe?**

Europe gains dominance because it came up with a lot of ideas that influenced the world and they started to question things. Renaissance started there in Italy and it changed the world completely. It gave the people another point of view of the world which is very big deal. The idea Heliocentric developed from there, and a lot of artists, rulers, and scientists discovered many ideas that influenced every single person. From discovering Heliocentric, people started to question the Bible which said that it was Geocentric. When people found this out, they started to question the church, too. It is because if the Bible is wrong, they questioned, "what keeps the church from being wrong?" This is why Europe gained dominance.
 * Why Europe gains dominance?**

Since cities are places where ideas are often exchanged, it is a very likely place for an intellectual revolution to occur, thus contributing to the Renaissance.
 * 1. How did the cities of Italy help create the Renaissance?**

Even though they were patrons of art, I do not praise them. It is because even though Cosimo de Medici was a good ruler, his descendants might not have been and weren’t. They also were dictators and some were very selfish.
 * 2. What is your opinion of the Medici family?**

Humanism put the man being before God. People started to question the church’s absolute power. They started thinking for themselves, and sharing their ideas and thoughts.
 * 3. How did Humanism influence Renaissance ideas?**

Church leaders and wealthy merchants supported the arts, because having artwork of themselves or artwork created by them (in those days) displayed their power.
 * 4. Why did church leaders and wealthy merchants support the arts?**

The Renaissance women and men both were expected to have a good knowledge. However, men were also expected to take that knowledge to the next level, and use it to bring themselves up to high positions. Women were not allowed to take that knowledge and use it for their own.
 * 5. What were the similarities and differences between upper-class Renaissance men and women?**

The ideal Renaissance man and women emphasized the individual, because in the beginning of the document, it states, “and always among the first........and that impudent self praise..” It gives a sense of individuality. In the women’s document, it said, “when you werre in the city and due our portrait in carbon, you promised us that you would some day paint it in colors.” this tells me that they are thinking only for themselves, not for their whole group. They, individually wanted to be educated
 * 6. After reading the "Analyzing Primary Sources" box, respond to this question: Do the qualities called for in the ideal Renaissance man and woman seem to emphasize the individual or the group? Give evidence in the documents to back up your answer!**