Despite these crises, the 14th century was also a time of great progress in the arts and sciences. Following a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman texts that took root in the High Middle Ages, the Italian Renaissance began. The absorption of Latin texts had started before the Renaissance of the 12th century through contact with Arabs during the Crusades, but the availability of important Greek texts accelerated with the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks, when many Byzantine scholars had to seek refuge in the West, particularly Italy. COUNT 5
QSN1 An interest in texts from which two ancient civilizations sparked the Italian Renaissance? ANS1 Greek and Roman QSN2 Which conflicts brought Europeans into contact with Arabs prior to the 12th century? ANS2 the Crusades QSN3 Which city was captured by the Ottoman Turks, resulting in the fleeing of scholars to Western Europe? ANS3 Constantinople QSN4 Who captured Constantinople? ANS4 Ottoman Turks QSN5 What kind of texts did Byzantine scholars take with them when they fled Constantinople? ANS5 Greek