Ch 1: AP European History - The Renaissance Era: Homeschool Curriculum
About This Chapter
Who's it for?
This unit of our AP European History Homeschool course will benefit any student who is trying to learn about the Renaissance era. There is no faster or easier way to learn about the Italian Renaissance. Among those who would benefit are:
- Students who require an efficient, self-paced course of study to learn about the birth of parliamentary government, the House of Medici, the impact of the printing press and New World exploration.
- Homeschool parents looking to spend less time preparing lessons and more time teaching.
- Homeschool parents who need a history curriculum that appeals to multiple learning types (visual or auditory).
- Gifted students and students with learning differences.
How it works:
- Students watch a short, fun video lesson that covers a specific unit topic.
- Students and parents can refer to the video transcripts to reinforce learning.
- Short quizzes and a Renaissance Era unit exam confirm understanding or identify any topics that require review.
Renaissance Era Unit Objectives:
- Review the major events that took place in Europe during the Renaissance.
- Understand how the Renaissance transformed the political nature of Italy.
- Explore the socio-economic reasons for the European peasant revolts.
- Learn about the Renaissance economy and the rise of banking.
- Discuss what France was like at the end of the 100 Years' War with England.
- Understand how the Italian Renaissance influenced England and Germany.

1. The Renaissance Timeline: Events Overview
In this lesson, we will build an outline of the historical events which flow together to form the time periods of the Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Discovery, and the Elizabethan era.

2. The Italian Renaissance and Italy's Transformation
This lesson will discuss the three main reasons why Italy transformed from a group of competing city-states to the home of the birth of the Renaissance.

3. The House of Medici: Rise and Fall of a Banking Family
This lesson will focus on the Medici family of Florence, Italy. It will explain their rise to power through banking. It will also highlight their influence on the Renaissance era and how they gained influence without violence.

4. Fourteenth-Century Peasant Revolts Across Europe
Fourteenth-century Europe saw several peasant revolts. This lesson looks at the economic and political conditions that led to these uprisings and names two of the most well-known.

5. The Birth of Parliament: Monarchs vs. the Aristocracy
This lesson will focus on the rise of monarchies during the Renaissance, highlighting the interactions of these monarchies with the church and the aristocracy.

6. The Renaissance Economy: The Rise of Banking
In this lesson, we will discuss the rise of banking and the Renaissance economy. We will highlight the Medici family and the rise of the middle class.

7. The Formation of Modern Nation States
This lesson explains the formation of the modern nation-states. It will highlight how the decline of feudalism, as well as the decline in church power, helped bring about the modern nation-state. It will also feature several monarchs who ruled during these times.

8. The Renaissance Heresies of Wycliffe and Hus
This lesson will focus on the Renaissance teachings of John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. It will highlight their challenges to church authority, membership and traditions.

9. The Northern Renaissance
This lesson will focus on the Northern Renaissance. It will contrast the Renaissance of the North with the Italian Renaissance, exploring these differences in the areas of art, politics, and religion.

10. France and the Valois at the End of the 100 Years War
This lesson focuses on France at the end of The Hundred Years War. It will examine the changes to France in the areas of military tactics, feudalism, and its monarchies. It will also highlight the French monarchs of the time period.

11. The Old World and New World: Why Europeans Sailed to the Americas
This lesson will focus on the Age of Exploration. It will explain the main reasons why Europeans explored the New World. It will highlight their spirit of adventure, the religious desire to see natives converted, and the chance to acquire wealth.

12. How the Printing Press Changed the World
When you think of inventions that changed the world, you may think of farming tools or the wheel, or even the Internet. However, few can truly compare to the humble printing press.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AP European History: Homeschool Curriculum course
- Renaissance Philosophy, Art & Literature: Homeschool Curriculum
- Reformation Roots & Teachings: Homeschool Curriculum
- The Reformation's Effects Across Europe: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - Wars of Religion: Homeschool Curriculum
- The Age of Expansion: Homeschool Curriculum
- The Rise of Monarchical Nation States: Homeschool Curriculum
- English History - 1450 to 1700: Homeschool Curriculum
- The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - 18th Century Powers: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - The French Revolution: Homeschool Curriculum
- The Napoleonic Empire: Homeschool Curriculum
- 19th Century Revolutionary Movements: Homeschool Curriculum
- The First Industrial Revolution: Homeschool Curriculum
- Unifications of Nation States in the 19th Century: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - 1871 to 1914: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - World War I: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - The 1920s & 1930s: Homeschool Curriculum
- Russia After World War I: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - The Rise of Fascism: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - World War II: Homeschool Curriculum
- Post-War Europe: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP European History - Cold War Europe: Homeschool Curriculum
- Integration - Europe after the Soviet Union: Homeschool Curriculum
- Portions of the AP European History Exam: Homeschool Curriculum
- AP Exam Writing Strategies: Homeschool Curriculum
- How to Develop & Write an AP Exam Essay: Homeschool Curriculum