CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: C - The Italian Renaissance began in Florence in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe by the 16th century. Florence experienced a confluence of factors that made it a favorable location for such a sudden burst of creativity and progressive thought. The naval experience acquired through the Crusades and the additional trade experience that came from the re-established Silk Road made Italian merchants incredibly wealthy. The Renaissance-era leader of Florence, Lorenzo de Medici, was from an affluent banking family, and he began to patronize the arts, leading other moneyed Florentines to do the same. Advanced knowledge in science and math from the Far East and the Levant made its way to Italy, improving the quality of education. Johannes Gutenberg’s later development of the printing press and the beginning of the Printing Revolution only fanned the flames of learning, artistic expression and mass communication, which were already raging in Florence. Prior to the Renaissance, Florence began using a free enterprise system, which had an impact on local economics and access to education.