What Was the Renaissance?
By Sharon Fabian
Name ____________________
Date ______________ Per ____
For much of history, humans have had to spend their time surviving.
Prehistoric people probably spent nearly all of their time hunting for food
and keeping themselves safe from predators. As recently as the 1930's,
when the Great Depression struck, Americans went into survival mode,
spending all of their efforts on getting the necessities of life. Today in many
parts of the world, survival is still all that people can think about.
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At certain times and places, however, people have been luckier. When
the conditions were just right, people became free to spend their time and energy on something
special. This is what happened in Europe during the Renaissance. Many factors combined to make
Renaissance Europe a special, creative place.
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The Medieval Era which had defined Europe for so long was beginning to come to an end in the
1300's. The Black Plague wiped out a large part of the population of Europe. It also weakened
people's faith in the Christian church, which had exerted so much control over the lives of medieval
people. Advances in military equipment, such as the invention of long-range cannons, brought an end
to medieval warfare and, so, to the feudal system. Europe was ready for a change.
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People began to look to education and science for answers. Greek and Roman writings that had
been discarded years ago were dusted off and studied once again. People began to consider new
answers, new ideas, and new ways of doing things. The ideas of individual people became valued.
This renewed belief in the potential of individual human beings became known as Humanism and
became a hallmark of the Renaissance.
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Creative people like writers and artists began to produce works that were new and different from
medieval art work. Paintings were more lifelike and less formal than medieval paintings. Writers tried
to understand human nature through their writings.
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People of the Renaissance were able to do this, in large part, because of the sponsorship of rich
and powerful patrons. Wealthy families of businessmen, who had made fortunes in international
trade, took an interest in having art and learning in their cities. They were willing to spend lots of
money to sponsor artists, scholars, and craftsmen who would produce works that would bring
education and creativity to their city.
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The Medici family in Florence, Italy, and the Sforza family in Milan, Italy, were two of the most
wealthy and influential Renaissance families. The Medici family made their city of Florence a center of
Renaissance culture. The Sforza family did the same for Milan. They sponsored creative people in
many fields, including art, architecture, literature, and science.
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Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Titian, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Botticelli painted some
of the world's most famous works of art in the cities of Renaissance Europe. Architects like
Brunelleschi designed their beautiful buildings there. Inventors like Gutenberg came up with new
creations, and scientists like Galileo and Copernicus announced discoveries that changed the way
people understood the world. Explorers like Christopher Columbus set sail from Renaissance Europe.
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These giants of the Renaissance, and many others, left a legacy of beautiful and innovative work.
They gave the word "Renaissance" the meaning that we know it by today " a time of extraordinary
creativity and accomplishment.
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This special period in our world's history continued for about 300 years.
Copyright © 2009 edHelper
What Was the Renaissance?
1. The Renaissance began in the ______.
1300's
300's
1900's
1600's
2. The accomplishments described in this article
took place in ______.
North America
Asia
Europe
South America
3. Michelangelo was a/an ______.
Painter
Scientist
Architect
Businessman
4. Copernicus was a/an ______.
Scientist
Businessman
Architect
Painter
5. The Medici family were ______.
Businessmen
Scientists
Painters
Architects
6. Brunelleschi was a/an ______.
Architect
Businessman
Government official
Scientist
7. The Renaissance was a time of ______.
Church rule
The plague
Creativity
Hunger and poverty
8. The Renaissance ended in the ______.
1600's
1900's
300's
1300's
Robin Hood
By Sharon Fabian
Robin Hood was an outlaw, but he was also a hero. He broke the laws of the
forest, hunting deer where only the king was allowed to hunt, but to the everyday
people, he was a hero.
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He is still a hero today to many people. Robin Hood stories are well-known,
and the character of Robin Hood, dressed in forest green and carrying a bow and
arrow, is a familiar one. Although there is no evidence that Robin Hood ever
existed, he has lived through the ages as a folk hero.
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Robin Hood had the qualities that many people admire. He was good-hearted
and courteous to everyday people. He looked out for his friends and those in
need. He loved nature, and he also enjoyed a good time. He is probably best
known by the age-old description - "He stole from the rich, and he gave to the poor."
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Robin Hood's adventures are featured in many traditional stories. They take place during the
Middle Ages, often in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Some of the most interesting ones tell
how the other Merry Men came to join Robin Hood's band. Strangely enough, many of these tales
start with Robin Hood picking a fight!
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One day, when Robin Hood was crossing a river on a small footbridge, he met Little John, who by
the way was seven feet tall, coming the other way. Both men refused to step back to let the other
pass, and so they got into a fight. Using their staffs, (long wooden poles) each tried to knock the other
off the bridge. Little John won, and Robin Hood ended up in the river. Robin Hood asked Little John to
join his band, and eventually, Little John became Robin Hood's second in command.
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Robin Hood met Friar Tuck when he wanted to cross a river too. He jumped on Friar Tuck's back
and demanded to be carried across. Friar Tuck carried him across, but then jumped on Robin Hood's
back and demanded to be carried back. Robin Hood carried him back. They went back and forth like
that for a while, but finally Friar Tuck got tired of the game. He dropped Robin Hood into the river.
Robin Hood blew his horn to call on his Merry Men for back up. Soon, they were all competing in
even more contests. At the end of the day, Robin Hood asked Friar Tuck to join his Merry Men.
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Another day, Robin Hood met a stranger dressed in red silk along the forest road. He got into an
argument with the stranger, and the argument turned into a sword fight. The stranger, Will Scarlet,
won, and Robin Hood asked him to join his Merry Men. Will Scarlet's adventures with the Merry Men
began immediately when he was called upon to save a princess from not just one, but three, giants.
The grateful princess married Will Scarlet.
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Robin Hood came across Alan a Dale sitting by the side of the road, sad and depressed. Robin
Hood didn't pick a fight with him; he sat and listened to his story. He found out that Alan a Dale has
been about to marry his one true love, when she was taken away and given to an old and cruel
knight. Their wedding was taking place that day. Robin Hood decided to help. He blew his horn, and
the Merry Men arrived. They all went to the wedding, where Robin Hood sneaked in, disguised as a
musician. He stopped the wedding. Then, Little John put on the bishop's robes and married Alan a
Dale and his true love.
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If you are ever in need of help, just look around for Robin Hood. He may or may not still be
wearing green and carrying a bow and arrow, but he's the one who is always willing to help the little
guy. He'll stand up to authority, fight the oppressors and the bullies, and save the day. He may even
still be picking fights, just for the fun of it.
Copyright © 2009 edHelper
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Robin Hood
1. Robin Hood was most likely ______.
A king
A real-life outlaw
A fictional character
The lord of Nottinghamshire
2. Robin Hood treated ______ well.
His king
Everyday people
All royal and wealthy people
All royalty
3. The Robin Hood stories take place in ______. 4. Robin Hood was the leader of a ______.
Holland
Band of outlaws
Spain
Council of kings
France
Group of knights
England
Royal court
5. When Robin Hood first met Little John, they
______.
Were each on a mission for their king
Got into a fight
Greeted each other as friends
Were enemies in a war
6. When Robin Hood first met Will Scarlet, they
______.
Got into a fight
Were enemies in a war
Greeted each other as friends
Were each on a mission for their king
7. ______ married a princess.
Little John
Robin Hood
Friar Tuck
Will Scarlet
8. ______ was sad because his true love was
about to marry a cruel knight.
Alan a Dale
Will Scarlet
Friar Tuck
Little John