Renaissance & Enlightenment

What was the Renaissance?

A cultural movement (14th–17th century) originating in Italy, marking a revival of interest in classical art, literature, and learning

Who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling?

Michelangelo, between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II

What was the significance of Gutenberg's printing press?

Invented around 1440, it revolutionized the spread of knowledge by making books affordable and widely available

What was the Protestant Reformation?

A 16th-century religious movement initiated by Martin Luther's 95 Theses (1517), challenging Catholic Church practices and leading to new Protestant denominations

Who was Leonardo da Vinci?

Italian polymath (1452–1519) known for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as pioneering studies in anatomy, engineering, and flight

What was the Scientific Revolution?

A period (c. 1543–1687) of major advances in science, including works by Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton

What did Copernicus propose?

The heliocentric model — that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, not the other way around (published 1543)

What was the Enlightenment?

An 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority

Who wrote 'Two Treatises of Government'?

John Locke (1689), arguing for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government by consent of the governed

What was Montesquieu's contribution to political thought?

He advocated the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches in 'The Spirit of the Laws' (1748)