1. The Economic Effects of the Crusades:  Increased demand for Middle Eastern products  Stimulated production of goods to trade in the Middle Eastern and European markets  Encouraged the use of credit and banking  Church outlawed the banks practice of usury (the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest)  New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numerals ) introduced it begin?…

2. The Renaissance:  “Rebirth” or “New Birth ”  The great revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th (1300s) and extending to the17th century (1600s)marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world.

3. Reasons Why the Renaissance Began in Italy…  Italy’s geographic position (a peninsula in Central Europe) made it the center location of the trade routes. This led to…  Increased wealth  Contact with Byzantine scholars who preserved Greek and Roman ideas  Interest in study of early Christian writings  Introduction of new products and ideas

4. Italian City-States:  At this point in time, Italy is broken up into numerous states, all of which are ruled by one city located in that state.  Trade leads to growth in these city- states, especially the following three…  Florence  Considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance  The center for banking, art, culture, and literature  Genoa  Venice