AP European History Unit 2
Renaissance and Reconnaissance (8 Days)
(revised 2001)
Day 1- Italy during the Renaissance
McKay p. 415-419
Castiglione Handout
A) Expand on the unique characteristics which allowed the Renaissance to begin in Italy.
B) Describe the Italian political structure. Use examples from: Papal States, Naples, Milan and
Florence.
C) Identify the ideal characteristics of Castiglione’s courtier
Day 2.- Machiavelli’s Style of Power Politics
Handout- The Prince
A) Give a biographical account of Machiavelli.
B) Extrapolate Machiavelli’s major political principles in the Prince and compare his ideas with
political philosophies in the Middle Ages.
Day 3- Politics in Northern Europe
McKay p. 440-445
A) Investigate the political states of Northern Europe.
B) Compare the process of each state in the formation of a nationalistic kingdom.
Day 4. And 5 Italian and Christian Humanism
McKay p 420-422 and p. 428-434
A) List the major contributions to the humanist tradition of the following: Boccaccio, Dante
Alighieri, Francisco Petrarca, Leonardo Bruni, Lorenzo Valla, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della
Mirandola.
B) Explain the social changes in Europe as medieval society began to decline.
C) Compare Italian and Northern Humanism and evaluate to what extent they influenced each
other
D) List the Major contributions to humanism of: Johann Reuchlen, Jacques Lefevre, John Colit
Thomas More, and Desiderius Erasmus.
Day 6. Stylistic Trends in Renaissance Art.
McKay p. 422-428
A) Compare the styles of the Italian Renaissance to the Northern European Renaissance in
painting , sculpture and architecture
Day 7 Reconnaissance
McKay p. 502-512
A)Explain the technical achievements and major motives that encouraged exploration.
B) Discuss the growth of the Portugese, Spanish, English Ditch Swedish and French colonial
systems.
C) Study an historical map to understand the geographical consequences of the major voyages
and discoveries.
Day 8. Unit Exam