Materials

• A copy of class notes on “Economic and Political Foundations of the Renaissance” (Attachment B) for each student
• A copy of class notes on “Cultural Change during the Renaissance” (Attachment C) for each student
• Overhead projector (optional)
• Teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other activity

Instructional Activities

1. Put class notes on the board or overhead for “Economic and Political Foundations of the Renaissance” (Attachment B). Discuss the notes, emphasizing the rise and politics of the Italian city-states.
   
   
2. Ask students to relate Renaissance concepts to situations in the modern-day world, posting and asking questions such as the following:
   
   • Do we have patrons of the arts in today’s world?
   • What is the difference between usury in the Renaissance and today’s practice of charging interest for loans and credit card purchases? Are there any similarities between the two?
   
   
3. Put class notes for “Cultural Change during the Renaissance” (Attachment C) on the board or overhead. Discuss the intellectual movements, writers, and artists of the period. (NOTE: This lesson may extend to two sessions.)
   
   
4. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available teacher resources.