The Northern Renaissance

1. What factors led to the beginning of the Renaissance in northern Europe? 

Urban merchants became wealthy enough to sponsor artists.

2. How did the invention of the printing press help spread learning and Renaissance ideas? 

It increased literacy in Europe

3. Albrecht Dürer

German artist famous for realistic woodcuts and engravings. 

4. Jan van Eyck- 

Flemish painter pioneered oil-based painting

5. Pieter Bruegel the Elder-  

a painter and printmaker from Brabant, known for his landscapes and peasant scenes

6. Desiderius Erasmus- 

a Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar 

7. Thomas More- 

was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist

8. William Shakespeare- 

was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist

TERMS & NAMES 

Utopia- is an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its citizens

William Shakespeare- was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist

Johann Gutenberg- was a German goldsmith, inventor, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with the printing press

2. Which of the events listed in the readings relating to the Northern Renaissance do you think was most important? Explain.

I think that the printing press was the most important in the Northern Renaissance because it allowed people to spread news easily and expand the movement. 

MAIN IDEAS

3. How did Albrecht Dürer’s work reflect the influence of the Italian Renaissance?
He was the only artist who drew things as they really were and he drew living things.

4. What was one way the Renaissance changed society? 

The art during the Renaissance changed society because it influenced many people and allowed creativity for all to see.

5. Why was the invention of the printing press so important?  

It made information inexpensive, more books led to more people gaining knowledge and literacy. 

The Renaissance Begins

1. How did humanism influence the growth of learning?
Humanists influenced artists to carry on classical traditions and popularized the studies common to classical education.

2. How did ideas about piety and a simple life change?
although people remained devoutly catholic, the spirit of society was secular. Church leaders and the wealthy believed they could enjoy life without offending God.

3. What role did patrons of the arts play in the development of Renaissance ideas?
They spent money to help artists and architects create works of genius.

4. What effects did the emphasis on individuals have on painters and sculptors? They painted portraits of prominent citizens, showing what was distinctive about each; they glorified the human body in natural postures; they developed perspective to enhance realism.

5. How did writers reflect Renaissance values in their work?
They wrote in the vernacular; they wrote either for self-expression or to portray the individuality of their subjects.

6. How did the writing of Petrarch, Boccaccio, and Machiavelli demonstrate the values of humanism?
Petrarch wrote sonnets about Laura, an ideal woman; Boccaccio wrote about the follies of his characters in the Decameron, and machiavelli wrote about the imperfect conduct of humans in the prince.

Terms and Names:
renaissance- the rebirth of art and learning the began in northern Italy around 1300.
humanism- an outlook focusing on human potential and achievements.
secular- worldly rather than spiritual and concerned with here and now.
patron- people who financially support the arts.
perspective- an artistic technique that indicates three dimensions.
vernacular- the native language, rather than classical latin.