World History (Unit 6, #4) Name _______________________

Date _______________ Pd ______

The Renaissance—Life in Florence
STATION 1: Trade in the Renaissance—Trace the growth of trade
during the High Middle Ages and Renaissance 1. Who did Italian merchants trade with during the High
Middle Ages & Renaissance?

2. What “luxury” products did merchants bring to Italy?

3. How might the growth of trade in Europe help bring about

the rise of the Renaissance in Italy?

STATION 2: Population Changes in the Renaissance—Use the data

provided to chart the population changes in 3 Italian city-states 1. Which city-state had the most people by 1600?
Rome Florence Venice

2. Which city-state had the largest population growth from

1300-1600?

3. What trend do all these Italian city-states have in common?

STATION 3: Classical, Middle Ages, &. Renaissance Art—Examine STATION 4: Architecture in the Renaissance—Carefully read
the chart and images provided to answer each question below the description of Il Duomo and answer they questions. Then as
Identify each as “Classical,” “Medieval,” or Renaissance a team, follow the directions to construct a human dome.
“Renaissance” (Each sentence may describe or Medieval 1. What is a “copula”?
more than 1 style) Art?
________ 1. Figures in art look perfect, realistic
________ 2. Art was used to teach people about 1. ______
the Catholic Church 2. What contest did Brunelleschi win?
________ 3. Gold was often the main color used
2. ______
________ 4. Backgrounds were deep & used
perspective to show distance 3. Why didn’t your human dome
________ 5. Stain-glassed windows 3. ______ collapse?
________ 6. Did not show emotion
________ 7. Showed important people, not
4. ______
ordinary daily life
4. Why didn’t Brunelleschi’s dome
________ 8. Showed nudity
collapse?
________ 9. Showed people moving 5. ______
________ 10. Art showed religious themes
________ 11. Used light to show depth
STATION 5: Social Classes in the Renaissance—Examine the
reading and complete the chart below 1. Who are the “new rich” in Florence?

Who are the “grandi”?

2. Which group (in your opinion) most deserves to rule over

Who are the “popolo grassi”? the people of Florence

Who is the “middle class”?

3. How is the social structure during the Renaissance different

Who are the “working class”? from the social structure of the Middle Ages?

STATION 6: Middle Ages vs. Renaissance Outlook on Life—Read the information about Medieval & Renaissance attitudes. Next to the peop
Peasant in the Renaissance Man
I think… Middle Ages I think…

I feel…
I feel…

I see… I see…

STATION 7: Leonardo da Vinci—Leonardo was a great artist & STATION 8: The Medici Family—Read the biography on the
inventor. Guess what each of inventions is. Confirm your answers Medici Family and answer the questions below.
by looking on the back (Remember, Leonardo wrote backwards!!)
1. What gave the Medici Family so much power?
A. What do you think it is? (Confirm your answer)

B. What do you think it is? (Confirm your answer) 2. Why did helping Cossa turn out to be a great thing for the
Medici family?

C. What do you think it is? (Confirm your answer)

3. What did Cosimo encourage Giovanni to do with some of

In the space below, do a sketch of an invention that could be used the Medici family’s money?
to help kids study their textbook as they walk to class.

4. Why do you think Cosimo was considered the “Godfather of

the Renaissance”?
STATION 3
STATION 3 Middle Ages vs. Renaissance Art
#1 #2 #3

#4 #5
STATION 4

Insert Brunelleschi dome reading here

STATION 5
Social Classes in the Renaissance
Within Renaissance city states like Florence, competition among different
social classes was intense. There were four major social groups in Florence,
which is relatively representative of other city-states in Italy at the time.
Those social classes included:

1. The grandi—the “old money” nobles who had moved into the city to
take part in its growing wealth and prestige. These families were old,
and used to ruling. They saw it as their birthright to be the rulers of
the city, and believed that only their experience would be effective in
managing the people of Florence.

2. The popolo grasso—Florence’s “new rich”—bankers, merchants,

traders, saw themselves as the legitimate rulers because it was their
money and activities that had contributed to the growing wealth of
the city, and they employed most people in Florence. Therefore, they
thought they should run the place.

3. The shopkeepers, artisans, and small traders —because they were the
largest group of business people, who controlled trade inside the city,
had contact on a daily basis with the most citizens of Florence, and as
a group processed huge sums of money, saw themselves as the true
local leaders. Their interests were local, their business was local, their
customers were local, and their money was local. This made them, in
their own eyes, the ultimate citizens of Florence and, therefore, they
felt they should lead.

4. Working class—These people made up the 30,000 textile workers of

Florence, as well as supplying labor in other industries, including the
spice, silk, and porcelain trades run by the grandi and the popolo
grasso. These people felt that, as the biggest single segment of the
population, and as the engines of the economy (without labor,
everything would shut down) they should be the leaders of Florence.
STATION 2

Population Changes in Renaissance (1300 to 1600)

During the High Middle Ages and Renaissance, European city-

states began to undergo significant population changes. The
northern Italian city-states of Florence, Venice, and Rome are
excellent examples. Use the information in the chart below to
complete the table o your handout. You will plot the population
for each city from 1300 to 1600. It would be advisable to use
three different colors on this chart, one for each city-state.
When finished, answer the questions provided.

1300 1400 1500 1600

Florence 90,000 60,000 110,000 190,000

Rome 40,000 25,000 50,000 110,000

Venice 200,000 110,000 115,000 150,000

STATION 6
Middle Ages vs. Renaissance—Outlook on Life
Outlook on life:
Middle Ages: During the tough times of the Middle Ages, most Western Europeans
were focused on their Roman Catholic religion and the afterlife. They lived their
lives according to the rules of the Catholic Church in hopes of reaching Heaven when
they died.
Renaissance: By the 1300’s, especially in Italy, a shift had taken place. People were
more focused on enjoying their lives while they were on Earth, although most
people still practiced Roman Catholicism. Artists, writers and other individuals were
eager to be known and remembered as individuals. Fame became a reward for
talent and wealth. Wealthy merchants were willing and able to spend money on
portraits of themselves or relatives. Autobiographies began to be written because
people believed that their lives were interesting and important not just to
themselves, but to others.
Education:
Middle Ages: The Middle Ages are often referred to as the Dark Ages. This is how
the scholars of the Renaissance viewed the Middle Ages. They thought that
Western Europe has been living in darkness and ignorance since the fall of the
Roman Empire. Many people had forgotten how to read and write. Priests and
monks were typically the most educated people because they operated schools,
maintained libraries and copied books.
Renaissance: Humanists during the Renaissance loved and studied the writings of
ancient Greece and Rome. They believed in the potential of all humans and that
education was the way to enable people to reach their full potential. Renaissance
artists and thinkers wanted to learn more about the world around them, including
the human body and how it worked
Clothing:
Middle Ages: In the Middle Ages, devoutly religious people proved their devotion to
their religion by wearing poor, rough clothing and living on the plainest foods. This
was modeled by the monks living in monasteries.
Renaissance: Humanists suggested that a person might love and enjoy life without
offending God. In Renaissance Italy, almost everyone with money openly enjoyed
luxurious fabrics, fine music, tasty foods and beautiful surroundings; in fact, clothing
itself became a work of art.
STATION 1
Trade in the Renaissance
STATION 7
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #1
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #1
STATION 7
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #2
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #2
STATION 7
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #3
Leonardo da Vinci’s Inventions #3
STATION 8
The powerful Medici Family

Giovanni Medici was born but his cousin Vieri gave him a job in the family
business, the Medici Bank. Giovanni ran the Rome branch of the Medici
Bank so well that he took over the entire enterprise when Vieri retired.
Giovanni chose his banking clients carefully; he demanded loyalty, as well
as profit. In 1410, Giovanni Medici helped an old friend (and former pirate),
Baldassare Cossa, become Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. When
Cossa became Pope (Pope John XXIII), he gave the Medici Bank full
authority to handle the money of the Roman Catholic Church. Giovanni
became “God’s banker” and grew very powerful.

Giovanni’s son, Cosimo de Medici, was

trained in banking from a young age.
Unlike his father, Cosimo was more
eager to learn about things other than
banking. As a young man he attended
lectures in classical philosophy and
literature and became one of the first
generation of Humanists. Cosimo
encouraged his father to invest their
wealth in art projects to benefit the city
of Florence.

After his father’s death, Cosimo

assumed leadership of the Medici Bank.
He used his wealth and power to rule
Florence. In addition, Cosimo invested
in art and learning, helping transform Florentine into the leading
Renaissance city. During his lifetime, he commissioned artists such as Lippi,
Donatello, Michelozzo and Gozzoli to create magnificent works of art to
show off the wealth of Florence but also his power as ruler of the city.
Cosimo’s power made him the “Godfather of the Renaissance. “