1450s

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/1450s

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the decade of focus?1450-1459
2. What is the intellectual movement?The spread of Humanist ideas and the burgeoning impact of widespread literacy
3. What was the printing press and why was it important in the 1450s?The printing press was a machine that could make many copies of a book quickly. It let people read and share ideas more easily, which helped new thoughts spread.
4. How did the 1450s help people learn more about the world?In the 1450s, ships started traveling farther, bringing spices, silk, and new ideas from Asia to Europe. This made people curious and connected different cultures.

Humanism: An intellectual movement emphasizing human potential, reason, and classical studies.
Gutenberg Bible: One of the first major books printed using movable type in the West.
Mercantilism: An economic theory promoting government regulation and trade to increase national wealth.