Assignment
1. What were the characteristics of the Italian Renaissance?
2. In what ways did the European world experience an economic recovery in the fifteenth century? Did the revived economy differ greatly from what it had been?
3. Discuss the major social changes of the Renaissance era. Were these changes actually a rejection of medieval trends? Why or why not?
4. Discuss the political development of Italy during the Renaissance. What new political practices (statecraft) did the Italians contribute to Europe? How are these new political practices reflected in the work of Machiavelli?
5. Discuss Italian Renaissance humanism. What does the word humanism mean?
6. Who were the humanists? What were their goals? Did they achieve them?
7. What were the distinctive characteristics of the Renaissance artists? How does their art reflect the political and social events of the period?
8. "The major characteristic in the development of the 'new monarchies' was the expansion of central government authority in the areas of economic, political, judicial, military, and religious policy." Is this a valid statement in regard to England, Spain, and France? Was the pattern of political development the same in Eastern Europe?