The Renaissance began in 
A. Italy 
B. France 
C. England 
D. Germany 
ANSWER: A
The Renaissance 
A. Was known for major new trends in literature, painting, sculpture, and architecture 
B. Came to an end because of the bubonic plague 
C. Was the era in which Medieval chivalry reached its peak 
D. Rejected the culture of the Greek and Roman worlds as not worth knowing 
ANSWER: A
The Renaissance has been controversial among historians because 
A. Historians have made major chronological errors in their narrative of events, casting the whole concept into doubt 
B. Renaissance intellectuals overstated their case, underestimating Medieval interest in the classics 
C. Some Renaissance intellectuals actually rejected classical literature 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: B
The Renaissance is often considered the beginning of a modern secular spirit because 
A. Renaissance scholars were so impressed by the works of Greece and Rome that they abandoned the Christian religion 
B. Renaissance artists with their emphasis on the nude, began a cult of the body that eventually denied the existence of the soul 
C. Renaissance scholars, though religious, were usually not men of the churches, monasteries, or universities-institutions dominated by religious thought 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: C
The text calls the Renaissance a multifaceted movement. Which of the following ideas is not one of the facets? 
A. Realism 
B. A secular spirit 
C. Activism 
D. Romanticism 
ANSWER: D
The core of Renaissance Humanism was 
A. Systematic theological study 
B. The study of history, literature, and philosophy, especially that of the Greeks and Romans 
C. A conscious attempt to imitate the virtues of the Germanic invaders of the Roman Empire 
D. A great admiration for the cultural achievements of Mesopotamian civilization 
ANSWER: B
A major patron of Renaissance art and humanism was 
A. The church 
B. Renaissance cities 
C. Wealthy individuals 
D. All of the above 
ANSWER: D
Isabella d'Este 
A. Was one of the last female Medieval intellectuals in France 
B. Was a major Renaissance artist, a rival of Michelangelo 
C. Was duchess of Ferrara, and a major patron of Renaissance literature and art 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: C
The printing press was developed by 
A. Gutenberg 
B. Petrarch 
C. Salutati 
D. Giotto 
ANSWER: A
The city considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance was 
A. Venice 
B. Milan 
C. Mantua 
D. Florence 
ANSWER: D
During the Renaissance, the city of Florence 
A. Maintained a large population because it was spared from the bubonic plague 
B. Was epitomized by Savanarola, a Renaissance humanist noted for his nude sculptures 
C. Was controlled by the Medici family, who were major patrons of the arts.
D. All of the above 
ANSWER: C
In contrast with Florence, Venice 
A. Suffered from constant domestic political violence 
B. Had no naval force to speak of 
C. Was ruled by a merchant oligarchy 
D. Changed from a republic to a monarchy 
ANSWER: C
During the Renaissance the papacy 
A. Was dominated by popes who were often great patrons of the arts, though not always very religious or moral 
B. Attempted to dominate the Holy Roman Empire 
C. Opposed the Renaissance, burning several important Florentine intellectuals at the stake 
D. Was virtually a satellite of France 
ANSWER: A
In his famous book, The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli argued that 
A. Princes must always show the virtues of charity and generosity 
B. Princes must be educated humanists in order to rule well 
C. Princes must be ready to discard ethical principles to succeed 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: C
Growing antisemitism in the 14th and 15th centuries was expressed by all of the following except 
A. Laws restricting Jews to specific parts of cities 
B. The refusal of Poland and Russia to admit Jews 
C. The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 
D. Laws requiring Jews to wear clothing that identified them as Jews 
ANSWER: B
The economy of the Renaissance 
A. Saw a very profitable banking business develop 
B. Saw major declines in the wool and silk industries 
C. Saw the trade of Venice decline and shift to Milan 
D. All of the above 
ANSWER: A
Pick out the incorrect statement about Renaissance families 
A. Most classes of society emphasized family loyalty 
B. Men tended to outnumber women, reversing the Medieval sex ratio 
C. Marriages were very important in establishing alliances between families 
D. Children were usually spoiled, especially in the wealthier families 
ANSWER: D
Which of the following architectural features became common during the Renaissance, but was lacking in the great Gothic Cathedrals? 
A. Flying buttresses 
B. Pointed arches 
C. Domes 
D. Stained glass windows.
ANSWER: C
The great dome of the cathedral of Florence 
A. Was designed by Brunelleschi 
B. Was a reproduction of the dome of the Pantheon in Rome 
C. Collapsed because of poor design 
D. Was the only one built during the Renaissance 
ANSWER: A
Michelangelo's sculpture of David 
A. Was noted for its realistic depiction of action 
B. Carried a political message, upholding the Florentine republic against the attempt of the Medici to dominate it 
C. Was intended as a column, rather than as a free-standing statue 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: B
Renaissance sculpture 
A. Was entirely confined to churches 
B. Never had a political message 
C. Shows an exuberant praise of anatomical realism, such as in Michelangelo's David 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: C
Renaissance painters 
A. Rejected realism and the full range of human expression 
B. Developed the technique of linear perspective so that the viewer was drawn into the painting that he viewed.
C. Regarded mathematical and optical accuracy as unworthy of a great artist's attention 
D. None of the above 
ANSWER: B
The figure who, more than anyone else, personified the "Renaissance Man" was 
A. Michelangelo 
B. Leonardo da Vinci 
C. Machiavelli 
D. Brunelleschi 
ANSWER: B
The French king known as the "Spider" by his contemporaries was 
A. Francis I 
B. Henry VIII 
C. Charles VI 
D. Louis XI 
ANSWER: D
The so-called "New Monarchies" of Northern Europe during the Renaissance did all of the following except 
A. Bypass the nobility by appointing bureaucrats to government and by raising taxes to pay for the army 
B. Bring in artists from Italy to provide new and more beautiful residences for their kings 
C. Promote humanistic studies in their universities 
D. Reject war and Machiavellian diplomacy as instruments of their policies 
ANSWER: D
William Shakespeare 
A. Was strongly influenced by the Renaissance in his plays 
B. Took advantage of Renaissance English social mobility in his rise to prominence 
C. Performed some of his plays at the Globe theater 
D. All of the above 
ANSWER: D
The country that was at the heart of the Renaissance was Italy.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
A major characteristic of the Renaissance was its strong sense of individualism.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Renaissance art was stylized rather than realistic.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Because of the secularism of the Renaissance, the Church was not a major patron of Renaissance art.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Isabella d'Este is a good example of how the ruling princes of Renaissance Italy valued an educated, intelligent princess.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
The great advantage of printing was that it accelerated the spread of ideas, increasing the pace of change in Western Civilization.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Cosimo de Medici in Renaissance Florence resembled Augustus in his ability to concentrate power in himself while maintaining the outward forms of republican government.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
The Renaissance republic of Venice was noted for its political and social turmoil.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
The papacy rejected the art and Humanism of the Renaissance as too secular.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
In his famous book, The Prince, Machiavelli argued that princes must rely on strength of will rather than on traditional virtues such as charity and generosity to maintain themselves in power.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Antisemitism in Eastern Europe compelled many European Jews to migrate westward.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Because of its great success in trade, Venice did not engage in manufacturing.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Even in wealthy Renaissance families, children were often raised not only in strictness, but in hardship.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Renaissance architects argued that the form of buildings should mirror the proportions of the human body.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
The great dome of the cathedral of Florence was designed by Michelangelo.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Michelangelo's statue of David had a political purpose--to demonstrate that the republic of Florence was free from the domination of the Medici.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Raphael invented and developed linear perspective in painting.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
The Renaissance individual who is often considered to personify the Renaissance man was Cosimo de Medici.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
Louis XI of France was famous in his own time for preferring to use diplomatic intrigue rather than feudal armies to undermine and defeat his enemies.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
King Francis I of France became famous as a northern European patron of Renaissance ideas and art.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: A
Thomas More's book, Utopia, shows an English rejection of Renaissance values.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: B
