Renaissance Unit 1 Overview

The shift from feudalism to independent city-states, with social structures divided into nobles, merchants, workers, and peasants. Women primarily held domestic roles, while men dominated business, politics, and learning. Wealth determined social status, exemplified by the Medici family in Florence.

A period of economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism. Capitalism rose, with private businesses focused on profit. Banking and finance thrived, with families like the Medici playing crucial roles. Trade routes expanded due to technological advancements and the Columbian Exchange, a global transfer of goods, ideas, and diseases.

A political analysis by Nicolo Machiavelli, advising rulers on how to maintain power. It emphasizes pragmatism and realism, suggesting that rulers should be ruthless and cunning, even if it means breaking moral codes.

A technological innovation in shipbuilding that revolutionized sailing. These ships were larger, had multiple masts, and were more maneuverable, allowing for faster and longer voyages.

A primary motive for exploration during the Age of Exploration. It encompassed the desire to spread Christianity, acquire new resources, and gain wealth and prestige through conquering new territories.

A period of significant changes in Europe, marked by a shift away from religious dogma towards a more secular perspective. It witnessed a revival of classical learning and a focus on human potential.

Large, multi-masted ships used for long-distance voyages. Caravels played a crucial role in the Age of Exploration by allowing European explorers to navigate vast oceans more efficiently.

An economic system based on maximizing national wealth through trade surpluses. Governments aimed to export more goods than they imported, accumulating gold and silver and building a powerful empire.

The exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It resulted from European exploration and colonization, significantly impacting global trade patterns and populations.

The forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas for slave labor. This practice was driven by the demand for cheap labor on plantations and fueled the growth of European colonies in the Americas.