-
By this time, norther Italy had 23 City-States with populations of 20,000 or more. These would be the areas in which early Renaissance ideals would be formed. -
A Renaissance is a rebirth of culture and ideas of another time. The Renaissance of the 14th century is the rebirth of Roman and Greek cultures from before the Dark Ages. -
Having full control over the city, the Medici wanted to solidify their position by patronizing art pieces for the city. They would end up patrons for the most famous Renaissance artists Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. -
With the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, trade routes between Europe and Asia were drastically disrupted by the Turks. Forcing Europeans to find other ways to get Asian goods. -
A German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg created the first European printing press. Now instead of every book being hand printed, they could be mass produced with a lower cost. Literature would now flood Europe in knowledge and ideas. -
With the marriage of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, Spain became a united Christian Kingdom. -
With the sponsorship of the Spanish crown, Christopher Columbus set sail to find an eastern route to Asia. In stead he discovered the New World (The Americas) and brought forth a new age of European colonization and wealth. -
A Portuguese nobleman by the name of Vasco Da Gama was sponsored by the Portuguese crown to sail find a trade route to Asia by going around Africa. He was very successful in creating a trade route and even claimed many territories along the way. Portugal now had a monopoly on sea trade with Asian. -
Finding problems with the Christian church, Marten Luther wrote the 95 Theses as an argument for reformation of the church. What would happen is he would create of whole new sect of Christianity called Lutheranism. It brought forth a how new look at ones relationship with God. -
Jean Calvin was a French lawyer who was exiled for his sympathy with Protestantism. Being influence by Luther, Calvin would think deeply about mans relationship with god. He concluded that only a chosen few were destined for heaven. Thus Calvinism was born. -
Founded by Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuits were a group loyal only to the pope. Being Scholar-Soldiers they set up schools all over Europe to teach other and to gain new recruits. It was also thanks to them that Europe got a more realistic idea of Eastern Civilization.