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• What was the impact of the dark ages on Western Europe?

  There was a lack of military, economic, agricultural, and social growth. Rome (the mother of the world) fell after being invaded by barbarians and all its citizens were displaced. There was a general reversal of previous progress and many people returned to a life of hunting and gathering in order to survive.
• What was the impact of the dark ages on Byzantine?

  Byzantine, contrary to the rest of the world, prospered because they were so separated from everyone else. They built three walls with moats in between each one. This helped them fend off attackers and kept them safe.
• Who was Charlemagne? What was his impact?

  Charlemagne was very ahead of his time. He was considered to be the first Holy Roman Emperor and managed to create a mini golden age/renaissance. He was an advocate for education, valued his people, and was constantly trying to gain their trust and improve their lives. (For example, he set up money standards to encourage commerce, rebuilt roads, etc.)
• Who were the Vikings? What was their impact?


  They were Norwegian/Scandinavian people living off the land in cold regions. They were very advanced boatmakers, as their boats could traverse narrow streams and turbulent oceans. In search of riches, they would sail from their homelands to Western Europe (Modern-day UK). Monks, at the time, were peaceful, weaponless, and rich (because they were educated and rich people paid them to teach their kids). This made them the perfect targets for invading Vikings, who easily overpowered them and stole their riches. To keep the Popes/Kings safe from Vikings, Feudalism was invented. People lived in compounds protected by knights. The leader of each compound answered to the king but mostly controlled their own region. This was useful for a while but fell once there were no outside threats.
• What role did militarized knights and vikings play during the dark ages?

  Knights were the protectors of the feudalistic compounds. Vikings eventually aligned themselves with the church and became kings. For example, William of Normandy.
• How did Europe finally emerge from the dark ages?

  1. Europe was very cold and dreary during the dark ages, but it later became warmer and allowed for better farming, aka more food.

  2. The Vikings stopped attacking and became kings instead, calling Feudalism to fall.

  3. The people with power were the merchants, who were increasing trade and reviving the economy.

  4. Thanks to more food, there was a population boom.
• Where did the Renaissance begin?

  The renaissance began in Siena, Italy. However, after it was ravaged by the plague, Siena couldn't come back quick enough, while Florence could, and became the new Renaissance hotspot. (Which is why many researchers say it began in Florence) Me
• What are Renaissance Humanism and Christian Humanism?


  Humanism is a worldview centred around the importance of humanity and the study of the classics (Ancient Greece and Rome) They believed that humanity should be a priority over religion. Francesco Petrarch organized many classical texts, setting off a wave of classical research.

  Christian humanism is the belief in the ability of human beings to improve oneself through the teachings of the bible.
• Who were the Medici family?

  They were patrons/bankers (a patron is like a moneylender) from Florence. Lorenzo di Medici was the most famous, as he started the Medici banking business. Their ultimate plan was to gain lots of power, and to do so they aimed to appoint a member of their family as pope. However, the church didn't trust them, so instead they got a random pirate and educated him in theology for years so that he could work his way up the ladder to pope, then appoint the Medicis. The next four popes were all Medicis.
• What was the impact of Brunelleschi and the El Duomo.

  Brunelleschi was a renowned architect and engineer. The Medicis needed people to help build their cathedral (El Duomo), so a contest was held to see who was worthy of engineering and building it. Brunelleschi was not first choice, but he sabotaged the other guy and eventually was made head architect and ultimately was the one who finished it.
• What was Machiavelli's political influence then and now?


  Machiavelli believed that we should deal with the world as it is, not as it should be. He thinks we should be strict but reasonable rather than kind and optimistic to keep order within the people. Even now, Machiavelli's works are still recognized and supported. His book, the Prince, was even recognized by President Obama.
• Machiavelli's three quotes (You only need to understand one)


  1. "Power is more important than ideals", (couldn't find definition)

  2. "It's better to be feared than loved", obedience due to love is unreliable, but obedience due to fear is not.

  3. "The ends justify the means", if a goal is important enough, any method of getting it is acceptable. (not meant to justify cruelty, it was meant politically)
• Compare and contrast romanesque and Gothic architecture.

  Romanesque: ideas coming from ancient Rome/Greece. They're open, airy, and welcoming with rounded arches and domes and not that much windows.

  Gothic: Ideas from the church. Not meant to be welcoming, it's meant to be a place that's closer to god. They have pointed arches, large windows, flying buttresses, and are very tall and pointy.
• Who was Gutenberg, and what was the impact of his printing press?

  Gutenberg was an inventor that developed the first printing press with moveable type. This allowed mass printing and distribution of information and lesssened the church's control over people. He basically invented 'social media'.
• What was the Vernacular?

  The vernacular is the language or dialect that people use to converse with eachother in their everyday lives.
• Who commissioned Raphael to paint the School of Athens? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)

  It was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the walls of his private library.
• What did the School of Athens represent? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)

  The School of Athens represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers, and scientists (and some artists), from classical antiquity gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from eachother. This highlights the importance of learning from different time periods, which was a theme in the renaissance, and the importance of education, which was valued by Humanism.
• What was the matter and medium in the School of Athens? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)

  The School of Athens is a fresco painting. A fresco is a painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster. It was usually done on the wall or the ceiling (like a mural).
• Who were the 2 philosophers are in the center of the School of Athens? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)

  The 2 philosophers were Plato (on the left) and Aristotle (on the right). Plato points up because in his philosophy the changing world that we see around us is just a shadow of a higher reality that is eternal, beautiful, and unchanging. Aristotle holds his hand down because in his philosophy, the only reality is the one that we can see and experience by sight and touch. They represent the opposition between two world views and the founders of Western philosophy.)
• What mathematical practice did Raphael use to focus on Plato and Aristotle in the School of Athens? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)


  He used single point perspective/vanishing point.
• Which time period is Rafael focusing on in the School of Athens? (Renaissance painting of all the philosophers)

  He's focusing on the Renaissance, and bringing ideas from the past.
• Name each Renaissance ninja turtle and the colour of their bandana.

  Rafael is red

  Donatello is purple

  Michelangelo is orange

  Leonardo is blue