Praxis Elementary Education: RLA and Social Studies (5007) Practice Test

The Renaissance is the era most linked to a renewed curiosity about the wider world. This period rekindled interest in science, learning, and human potential, which encouraged people to ask questions about distant places and how to reach them. New technologies and methods—such as more accurate maps, better navigational tools like the compass and improved ships—along with the spread of ideas through the printing press, made long sea voyages possible. Wealthy patrons and merchants funded explorers to find new trade routes and resources, fueling a wave of global exploration. In contrast, feudalism describes medieval society, the Crusades brought contact with distant regions but not a sustained explorer mindset, and the Industrial Revolution centers on industry and production rather than the early drive to discover new lands. So the Renaissance best fits the idea of a renewed push to explore the world.