artists
People who communicate using pictures and paintings. Highly valued in renaissance society
writers
a person who uses his ideas to create books and stories. Highly valued in renaissance society.
families
A group of individuals who care about and for each other. Women were often responsible for looking after families needs.
feudal system
A political and social system based on the granting of land in exchange for loyalty, military assistance, and other services
city-states
The renaissance flourished in city-states.
It is a city that is completely independent from other cities, with its own government and laws.
It is a city that is completely independent from other cities, with its own government and laws.
hinterland
the area surrounding a city that helps to meet the needs of the people living in the city.
mercenary soldier
a soldier for hire; city states often hired them to fight wars
condotierri
leaders of mercenary soldiers in Renaissance Italy who sold their services to the highest bidder
oligarchy
A government ruled by a few powerful or wealthy people
republic
A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting which is democratic.
The Medici
Very rich and powerful banking family, who commissioned a lot of art. Exiled or killed their enemies.
The Doge
The elected leader of the great council of Venice.
fresco
painting on a wall by using watercolors on wet plaster
Humanists
a person who uses the power of reason to find the truth.
renaissance man
a well rounded person with a great deal of knowledge on many subjects.
beliefs
Certain ideas that people trust are true
dowry
A gift of money or property paid at the time of marriage
Machiavelli
Wrote the book “The Prince” and believed that people were “wretched creatures.”P
Patron
Someone who buys art and supports artists
Guttenberg
creator of the printing press
Empirical Reasoning
drawing conclusions from physical evidence
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Theory
A hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon.
Ptolemaic System
Belief that the Earth is the center of the universe
Ether
very light, airy; heavenly
Inquisition
A Roman Catholic tribunal for investigating and prosecuting charges of heresy – especially the one active in Spain during the 1400s.
proportion
A relation between one object an another usually in size
perspective
A technique in drawing and painting that shows objects as they appear to the eye
blasphemous
Cursing, profane; extremely irreverent
human anatomy
the science of the structure of the human body
eccentric
odd
reason
Logical thinking
“bonfires of the vanities”
Under the rule of Savonarola, bonfires were held to discard anything that was deemed to be an occasion of sin.
Dominican
a religious order
florin
3.5 ounces of gold used as currency in Florence
ducat
3.5 ounces of gold used as currency in Venice
