SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR VIDYA MANDIR, MULUND

FIRST TERM (2024– 25)

SUBJECT: HISTORY-CIVICS
CHAPTER: The Modern Age in Europe (A) Renaissance- NOTES
STD.: IX DATE :08 /07/2024

Students also need to read the Textbook along with the notes provided.
Renaissance
• The Term Renaissance means rebirth or revival.
• It stands for a complex transitional movement in Europe between medieval and
modern times from 14th century to 17th century.

Q1. Explain the Capture of Constantinople as a cause for Renaissance.

a.Constantinople, the capital of Eastern Europe fell into the hands of the Turks in 1453.

b.It was a centre of Greek and Roman learning and had valuable manuscripts of Greek
and Roman writers.

c.The scholars were forced to shift to Rome and other parts of Europe with their
manuscripts, where they spread their new spirit and ideas.

d.They revived interest in Greek philosophy, science, art and literature, which paved the
way for Renaissance.

Q2. Explain the Invention of the Printing Press as a cause for the Renaissance.
a.The Printing Press made it possible to print books in large numbers.

b.Scholars preferred printed material over hand written manuscripts.

c.It enabled Europe to multiply books and put them within the reach of people.

d.Printing and distribution of books influenced people’s attitude to life

e.It brought about a new awakening in Europe.

Q3. Explain the Decline of Feudalism as a cause for the Renaissance.

a.The Decline of feudalism in 13th and 14th centuries provided impetus to free thinking.

b.The peace and freedom that prevailed after decline of feudalism favoured the growth of
new learning.

c.It led to the new development in the spheres of art, literature, philosophy, science which
contributed to rise of Renaissance.

Q4. What led to the Discovery of New Trade Routes ?

a.The fall of Constantinople in the hands of Turks closed the trade route between the West
and the East.

b.As a result, the European traders and navigators felt the need for discovering new sea
routes by undertaking voyages, which led to the discoveries of new lands.

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Q5. How did the discovery of new trade routes, developed the spirit of Renaissance?
1.Due to these discoveries, contact between East and West began to develop.

2.There was fusion of ideas.

3.The opening of new trade routes :-

a.Encouraged trade.
b.It also created the spirit of adventure
c. It also broadened mental horizons

Q6. Mention the three Principles of Renaissance.

The Principles of Renaissance are as follows:
1. Humanism 2. Glorification of Human form
3. Spirit of Enquiry

Q7. What is meant by the Spirit of Enquiry. Mention the factors responsible for its rise.
It meant to reason out, observe and experiment.

Factors responsible for the development of spirit of enquiry:-

1.Role of Original thinkers
2.Crusades
3.Development of Science

Q8. Explain the Role of Original Thinkers in the spread of Spirit of Enquiry.
a. They criticised the Church and asked people to develop their own thinking.

b. Thinkers like Roger Bacon, Abelard, and Thomas Aquinas revolutionised the
thought process and laid stress on reasoning.

c. These original thinkers are called the forerunners of Renaissance.

Q9. Explain how Crusades led to the Spirit of Enquiry .

a. The Crusades were religious expeditionary wars.

b. Its goal was to restore Church’s access to holy places in and near Jerusalem.

c. It brought the people of Europe into direct contact with the people of Asia.

d. It widened the outlook on life.

e. People began to rely on reason than blind faith.

Q10. How did the Development of Science led to the Spirit of Enquiry.

a. Certain medieval scholars showed scientific attitude and to observe things in

nature.
b. It led to many discoveries and inventions.

c. This created spirit of enquiry and scientific temper.

d. The new inventions broadened the mental outlook of people.

e. It put to end to the old beliefs and traditions.

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IMPACT OF RENAISSANCE

1. Impact on Art and its Consequence

a. The Renaissance artist adopted new artistic methods like frescoes, oil colours and
wood cuts, studied optics and geometry.
b. They used painting to develop perspectives.
c. They also studied human anatomy to find mechanism of underlying gestures and
expressions.

Leonardo Da Vinci
i. He spent a great deal of time immersing himself in nature, he tested scientific
laws, dissected bodies (human and animal).

ii. Da vinci began filling notebooks related to four broad themes-painting,

architecture, mechanics and Human anatomy-creating thousands of pages of
neatly drawn illustrations.

iii. New techniques were adopted in his painting to give a fine feeling of reality.

iv. His paintings of the ‘Virgin of the Rocks’,” The Last Supper’, and ‘Mona Lisa’
are great master pieces of art.

Impact on Literature
• The most significant impact on Literature was the use of local languages instead of
Latin.
• During Renaissance, authors wrote about man and his problems.
• Such emphasis on man gave birth to a new movement called Humanism

William Shakespeare
• He was an English playwright, poet and actor and world's pre-eminent dramatist.

• His first plays were mostly historical dramas like Richard II, Henry VI and Henry V.

• He also wrote several comedies during his early period: A Midsummer Night's
Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It and Twelfth Night. It was only after
1600, that he wrote tragedies like Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth.

• Shakespeare's work transcends culture and history he appeals to emotions and

thoughts that are a part of eternal human nature and therefore, have a universal appeal.

IMPACT ON SCIENCE
• The Renaissance marked the beginning of modern science.
• The scientist of Renaissance period all views were based on observations and
experimentation.

Nicolaus Copernicus Heliocentric theory on the following:

1. There is no one centre of all celestial circles or spheres.
2. The earth has more than one motion, turning on its axis and moving in a spherical
orbit around the sun.
3. All the spheres revolve about the sun as their midpoint and therefore, the sun is
the centre of the universe.
4. The centre of the earth is not the centre of the universe, but only of gravity and of
the lunar sphere
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Q11. What is Feudalism?
i. It was a system according to which the medieval European society was
organised on the basis of land tenure.

ii. Here, King to lowest landowner were bound together by obligation and defence.

iii. The society had a graded organization in which there was hardly any chance
for social mobility and progress.

iv. It was opposed to freedom and equality of rights.

Q12. Renaissance artist tried to depict life on canvas and stone. With reference to this
statement, describe the progress in the art of painting.
1. The Renaissance painters established very high standard and produced some of
the greatest paintings of the time.
2. They showed their talent without being restricted by the rigid rule of the Church.
3. They had humanistic secular approach and produced highly artistic and life like
paintings.

Q13. Explain the Impact of Renaissance on Literature

• The most significant impact on Literature was the use of local languages instead of
Latin.
• During Renaissance, authors wrote about man and his problems.
• Such emphasis on man gave birth to a new movement called Humanism

Q14. Explain the role of Original thinkers in promoting the spirit of enquiry among the
people of Europe.
i. The Original thinkers criticised the Church for encouraging to put faith in
Church dogmas.
ii. They asked the people to develop their own thinking.
iii. They laid the stress on reasoning .