Jackson Creek Middle School

Art, History, and Language in Italy

1. What family of languages does Italian belong? What language did Italian develop from?

2. In what region was the modern Italian language born?

3. Where did Italy get its name and what does it mean?

4. How many dialects are spoken in Italy? Name three of them.

5. According to legends, who founded the city of Rome?

6. When did the Roman Empire begin and who was the first emperor?

7. What was the Roman Forum used for in ancient times?

8. What is an aqueduct and how was it used by the Romans?

9. What is another name for the Colosseum, how many spectators could seat in it, and what was it used for?

10. During the late middle ages, city states were formed in Italy. Name four city states.

11. Who was Niccolo Machiavelli and why did he write The Prince?

12. In Rome, the Vatican City is recognized as an independent state. Describe when it became an independent state, how many live in the state, and how big is it.

13. What is the nickname of Venice? What makes Venice different from other cities in Italy?

14. What does the word Renaissance mean? When did it take place and what was the significance of it?

15. Who was Giotto and how did he influence Renaissance art?

16. What did the Medici family do for Renaissance art? Name two artists who were associated with the Medici.

17. What does Romanesque Architecture mean and when did it begin? What are typical features of Romanesque churches?

18. In what year was the Leaning Tower of Pisa built? How much does it lean per year? In what architectural style/ period is it built?

19. Who was the greatest artist of the Renaissance, Michelangelo Buonarroti or Leonardo da Vinci? Support your argument with at least five points and why this artist was the greatest one.

20. Select one of the famous artists of Italy listed below. On a separate sheet of paper, write three paragraphs about the artist including biographical information (birth and death dates, what region or city the artist is known for, time in which they painted, etc.), describe one of your artist's famous pieces of art (include the title of the piece), and why you chose to describe this piece of artwork.

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Last Updated: 04/10/09
Kristina McGlaun, Librarian
Jackson Creek Middle School