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Petrarch was a scholar from Italy. He is known as one of the first humanists. He is important because he is often credited to initiating the Renaissance with his poetry.
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Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press with moveable type. This allowed information to be spread more quickly. It was also much cheaper to produce books. This is important because it lead to a decrease in illiteracy.
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The printing revolution began after Gutenberg created moveable type. Books and information could be spread more quickly. Books also became less expensive due to how easy they were to produce. This is important because it increased literacy rates in Europe.
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Lorenzo de Medici was a statesman from Florence, Italy. He provided employment opportunities for many famous painters and sculptors. He is important because without out his support of these people, they may have never created some of the most famous artwork of all time.
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Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, sculptor, engineer, and much more. He is known for the "Mona Lisa," "The Last Super," and more. He is important to mention because he influenced many other people during his time and beyond.
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Erasmus was a Catholic priest. He promoted classical ideas like having good morals. He was a supporter of the ideas brought about during the Reformation, but didn't like the Reformation's radical leaders. Erasmus is important because he was a prominent theologian during the Reformation.
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Copernicus came up with the idea that the Sun was the center of the Universe. He also said that the Earth revolved around the Sun. This was important because it challenged the Church.
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Michelangelo was a painter, sculptor, and poet during the Renaissance. He is known for the statue "David." He also wrote more than three hundred poems. He is important because he is thought to be one of the best people from Renaissance times.
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The Catholic Church used to sell indulgences. The Church had people thinking that they could buy their way to Heaven. This is important because it isn't true, and lead to many people leaving the Church.
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Thomas More was a humanist during the Renaissance. He is the author of the book "Utopia" which is about a perfect society. He is also a Catholic saint. He is important because the idea of an ideal world is still popular today.
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Raphael was a painter and architect. He is best known for "The School of Athens." Raphael is important to the Renaissance because is seen as one of the leading artistic figures.
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Martin Luther was a German monk who is known for breaking from the Catholic Church. After he wrote the 95 Theses the Protestant Reformation began. Martin Luther is important because he can credited to beginning the first Christian religion that wasn't Catholicism.
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Thomas Cranmer was the leader of the English Reformation after being appointed by Henry VIII. He was the leader of the Church of England. However Queen Mary I had him burned at the stake. He is important because he wrote the Book of Common Prayers which is still used today.
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Henry VIII was the king of England who is created the Church of England after the Pope refused to grant him a divorce. He is important because he changed the religion of his country.
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Ignatius of Loyola was a priest who founded the Society of Jesus. The Society of Jesus was a major part of the Counter Reformation. Ignatius is important because it is believed that his work did a lot to counter Luther and Calvin.
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John Calvin was a big part of the Reformation. He is known for having created his own branch of Christianity called Calvinism. He is important because he was one of the first people to break away from the Catholic Church after Martin Luther.
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Elizabeth I was the queen of England. She is imporant because she re-established the Church of England after her sister tried to return England to Catholicism.
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Pope Paul III was the first pope of the Counter Reformation. He also created the Council of Trent. He is important because he brought about many changes to the Catholic Church.
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The inquisition was a time where the Catholic Church was executing people in order to stop heresy. It is important because it lead to the death of lots of people in Europe.
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The Heliocentric Theory is a theory that states the Sun is the center of the solar system. It is important because it is based on scientific evidence and challenged the Church. It is what we believe today.
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The Council of Trent was the beginning of the Counter Reformation. The Catholic Church began to change. This is important because the Church became less involved in worldly ideas, and focused on religion.
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William Shakespeare is one of the most influential authors of all time. He wrote many plays and poems. He was also one of the first people to write in the vernacular. Shakespeare is important because his work is still read today.
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Galileo was a supporter of Copernicus' Heliocentric model. He made many discoveries by using his telescope. He is important because he is known as "The Father of Modern Science."
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The Scientific Method was first mention by Descartes. Over time it has evolved from what it once was, but it is still a list of steps one takes in order to solve a problem. It is important because it is how all experiments are tested today.
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Isaac Newton was a physicist during the Scientific Revolution. He created the Laws of Motion. He is important because he is known as the most influential physicist of all time.
