We Need A Rebirth! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Crusades

The Crusades were fought between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land intermittently from 1096-1487. Although the Christians ultimately did not regain the Holy Land, the impact on life felt by the Crusades in Europe was enormous. Italy benefited due to its location; Crusaders not only needed supplies, they also needed transportation to the Holy Land. Over time, the main trade routes passed from Asia, to the Byzantine Empire to the city-states in Northern Italy, such as Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. Demand for eastern goods led to profit from trade, which led to economic growth and cultural development.

As trade expanded to northern ports, Italy became the center of European trade. Life was good - for a time.

Answer: In Northern Italy, city-states comparable to the polis of ancient Greece developed.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Italy became fragmented; over time, it became divided into city-states and territories. The Kingdom of Naples controlled the southern part, while the Papal States and Republic of Florence dominated the central region.

In the north, Milan, Genoa, and Venice wielded the most power. Each of these areas was governed in different ways; there was no political unity, and the different regions, especially the Republic of Florence and the northern city-states, warred constantly.

In addition, there was an ongoing power struggle between the Papal States and Holy Roman Empire.

Answer: Vendettas

The concept of the vendetta, sometimes called a blood feud, has existed since ancient times; if someone in one family had been dishonored, harmed or somehow wronged, it was the family's responsibility to inflict a similar punishment on the culprit or his family.

Although a vendetta didn't have to involve the shedding of blood, it was definitely a series of hostile actions. In Italy, prior to the Renaissance, noble families were so aggressive and power hungry, that some cities became battlegrounds. High towers were built, and crossbows would be used to shoot arrows; it became dangerous for merchants to set up their wares and for shoppers to buy them.

The opening scene of Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 "Romeo and Juliet" portrays very accurately the nature of this problem in showing the rivalry and hostility between the Montagues and Capulets.

Answer: Prince

As economic, social, and political systems began to decline in the fourteenth century in rural areas, more people began to flood into the cities, believing they would find jobs and financial security there. It didn't take long for the newcomers to realize their lives would not be better; instead of going back to rural areas, they stayed in urban areas, becoming the poor, disgruntled, "little people", who clashed regularly with the "big people". Something needed to be done to control the violence between the "haves" and "have nots".

The solution? Hire a mercenary commander ("capitano") and his troops ("condittieri") to come in and make the city safe again. It was believed that these mercenaries would be neutral and unaligned with any of the factions, and would restore the peace.

The problem was that after peace was restored it was difficult to get rid of the hired men. Who was able to drive them from the city? The "capitano" usually stayed on as the "prince" to begin his own dynasty.

This might be tolerated if the prince seemed to do good things for the people. A few bridges, fountains, and works of art, might make him popular enough for the people to allow him to stay. How did that benefit the artistic community?

Answer: A period known as the Little Ice Age began.

Not really a true ice age, the Little Ice Age was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period, which had aided in bringing great prosperity to the people in Italy's Po Valley. While scientists do not agree on the dates of the Little Ice Age, some say that it began in approximately 1300, and lasted until 1850.

The climate began to get colder, especially with more severe winters and rainy, colder summers in the late 1200s. This led to the Great Famine of 1315-1317; the spring of 1315 was incredibly rainy, which led to crop failures and rotting grain. Salt, which was used to cure meat, could not be processed in the rainy weather.

It is written that during this time, the King of England, Edward II, even had difficulty in finding food for his army and entourage.

In fact, it was so wet that armies became bogged in the mud. The rain continued in 1316 and 1317; nobles, who had stored provisions, did not fare as badly as the peasants who had no reserves. Draft animals were slaughtered, seeds were eaten, and people even abandoned their children to take care of themselves.

Some incidents of cannibalism were recorded. The status quo was not restored until approximately 1325. While it is difficult to assess the number of deaths caused by the Little Ice Age, some historians estimate that 10-25% of the population was lost.

Answer: They ceased to accept new members.

While they were many different types of guilds, a guild was generally an association of merchants or artisans who controlled the trade of their craft in a particular town or area. Governed by master craftsmen, the guild members had a reputation for exceptionally fine work; their products typically brought high prices.

The status of master craftsman was not easily obtained. A person would first become an apprentice, learning a basic level of skills, and after attaining a certain level of proficiency, was allowed to become a journeyman.

It was at this stage that workers would learn the secrets of the trade. In Florence, there were 7-12 "greater guilds", which were comprised by people in wool and silk manufacturing, money changers, notaries, judges, "druggists" (grocers), and doctors, among others.

There were approximately fourteen "lesser guilds", which were for artisans, such as bakers and ironworkers. As Europeans suffered famine, and eventually the Black Death, work for guild members became almost non-existent. Guilds closed their doors to new apprentices in order to alleviate competition for the scarce amount of work that was available. Over time, this created a shortage of skilled labor, that became even more noticeable when the Black Death struck.

Answer: Medici

As the city-states in northern Italy began to make profits from trade, families in the region began to establish some of the first banking businesses. Profits from an agreement with the pope to collect Church money in England were used by the Peruzzi family to set up a network of sixteen banks in Europe, and loan money to the kings of England and Naples.

Not only did Edward III repudiate his loan, the King of Naples did as well, causing the collapse of the entire network of banks. While this is not the only reason for the destabilization of the trade network in northern Italy before the Renaissance, it did contribute to the overall economic depression that ensued.

When the Medici established their banks, they were careful to set up a system whereby if one bank failed for some reason, the others did not follow.

The Medici became so wealthy and influential that they not only came to control the government of Florence, but also the papacy.

Answer: False

Europeans had suffered from the plague in ancient times; most notably, the ancient Athenians were beset with the epidemic during the Peloponnesian War and suffered through three rounds of the disease, which was probably caused by overcrowded and unhygienic conditions.

The great Athenian statesman, Pericles, fell victim to the plague in 429 BC, thereby ending one of the most brilliant times in human history, the Age of Pericles. The Romans also suffered from the plague toward the end of the Empire Period; it is estimated that from 250-270 a plague ravaged the empire, killing as many as five thousand people a day.

Some historians theorize that the plague is what finished off the already-weakened empire.

Answer: True

It certainly was grim to fall victim to the Black Death, but in some ways, it had to have been just as difficult to somehow have remain alive after so many people had died. Of course it is impossible to know just how many died from the disease, but historians estimate that somewhere between 25-40% of Europe's population was lost - that means roughly 75-200 million deaths.

The effects of the Black Death, however, were felt for decades to come; some sources claim it took at least 200 years to regain Europe's population. Economic activity declined. Goods and workers were scare, and prices increased.

It was difficult to maintain law and order in the midst of so much chaos. Government officials died from the disease and were replaced by those who were incompetent and unscrupulous. What are the people left alive to do? Keep trying! Eventually, the chaos caused by the Black Death did help to sweep away old ideas and customs. What to do while waiting? Live like there is no tomorrow. If you might die soon (from the plague) feel an urgency to leave your mark on the world! Surround yourself in beauty? Maybe religious art will help soothe and heal.

Answer: Milan and Florence

Florence and Milan were involved in a series of three wars from 1390-92, 1397-98, and 1400-02. In the midst of all of the other turmoil, it is difficult to fathom that the Italians could also manage to war against each other, however, war between the city-states was rather commonplace. Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan, wanted to unify all of northern Italy into one kingdom that was ruled, of course, by himself! The city-state of Florence was a huge obstacle to his plan; there wasn't any way they were going to easily give up their republic, even though they were beset by plague, famine, and economic hardship. Visconti died suddenly of a fever in 1402, and his empire crumbled. Florence went on to become the driving force behind the Renaissance.