Studied by 19 people
by Veda Venkat
Jacob Burckhardt
Swiss historian (1818-1897).
Known for "The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy" (1860).
Popularized the concept of the Renaissance as a distinct historical period.
Patronage
Financial support provided by wealthy individuals or institutions.
Crucial for the development of art and culture during the Renaissance.
The Medici family in Florence were notable patrons.
Commercial Revolution
Period of European economic expansion from the 11th to 18th centuries.
Marked by the rise of banking, joint-stock companies, and colonialism.
Laid the foundation for modern capitalism.
Florence
An Italian city-state that was a major center of the Renaissance.
Known for its art, architecture, and cultural achievements.
Home to influential families like the Medici.
Banking
Financial institutions that manage money, provide loans, and facilitate trade.
The Medici family in Florence became powerful through banking.
Banking was essential to the Commercial Revolution and the Renaissance economy.
Merchant Elites
Wealthy and influential merchants who controlled trade and commerce.
Played a key role in the economic and political life of Italian city-states.
Often acted as patrons of the arts.
Italian City-States
Independent, self-governing cities in Italy during the Renaissance (e.g., Florence, Venice).
Centers of trade, art, and culture.
Often ruled by powerful families or oligarchies.
Sforza Family
A powerful ruling family in Milan during the Renaissance.
Gained control of Milan in the 15th century.
Known for their patronage of the arts and strong military leadership.
Medici Family
Influential banking family that ruled Florence during the Renaissance.
Major patrons of the arts, supporting artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
Played a significant role in the politics and culture of Florence.
Girolamo Savonarola
An Italian Dominican friar and preacher in Florence.
Led a religious reform movement and briefly took control of Florence.
Known for his "Bonfire of the Vanities," where he burned art and luxury items.
Petrarch
Italian scholar and poet (1304-1374).
Known as the "Father of Humanism."
His work laid the groundwork for the Renaissance humanist movement.
Humanism
Intellectual movement of the Renaissance focusing on human potential and achievements.
Emphasized the study of classical texts and the value of the individual.
Key figures include Petrarch and Erasmus.
Pico della Mirandola
Italian Renaissance philosopher (1463-1494).
Known for his work "Oration on the Dignity of Man," which emphasized human potential.
His ideas were central to Renaissance humanism
Virtù
Renaissance concept emphasizing the qualities of bravery, strength, and wisdom.
Refers to the ability to shape the world around oneself.
Central to the idea of the "Renaissance Man."
Renaissance Man
A person with knowledge and skills in a wide range of fields.
Embodies the ideals of the Renaissance, combining intellect, creativity, and physical ability.
Examples include Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Humanist Education
Educational system based on the study of classical texts and liberal arts.
Aimed at developing well-rounded individuals with moral and intellectual virtues.
Central to the curriculum in Renaissance Europe.
The Book of the Courtier
A book by Baldassare Castiglione (1528) describing the ideal courtier.
Emphasizes the qualities of grace, education, and virtù.
Influential in shaping the ideals of Renaissance court life.
Niccolò Machiavelli
Italian political philosopher (1469-1527).
Best known for "The Prince" (1513), a guide on political power.
His ideas on power and statecraft have had a lasting impact.
Christian Humanism
A Renaissance movement combining humanist ideals with Christian beliefs.
Focused on reforming the Church and applying humanist principles to religion.
Key figures include Erasmus and Thomas More.
Thomas More
English statesman and humanist (1478-1535).
Author of "Utopia," a book describing an ideal society.
Executed for refusing to accept Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church.
Erasmus
Dutch humanist and theologian (1466-1536).
Prominent Christian humanist known for works like "In Praise of Folly."
Advocated for Church reform and emphasized the study of the Bible
Printing Press
Invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440.
Revolutionized the production of books and the spread of knowledge.
Played a crucial role in the dissemination of Renaissance and Reformation ideas.
Michelangelo
Italian sculptor, painter, and architect (1475-1564).
Known for masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David.
A leading figure of the High Renaissance.
Portraits
Artistic representation of individuals, often commissioned by wealthy patrons.
Became popular during the Renaissance as a way to display status and wealth.
Examples include Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and Raphael's "Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione."
Donatello
Italian sculptor (1386-1466) known for his work in bronze and marble.
Famous for his statue of David, the first freestanding nude since antiquity.
A key figure in the development of Renaissance art.
Brunelleschi
Italian architect and engineer (1377-1446).
Best known for designing the dome of the Florence Cathedral.
Pioneered techniques in linear perspective and architectural design.
Italian Renaissance
A cultural movement in Italy from the 14th to the 17th century.
Marked by a revival of classical art, literature, and learning.
Key cities include Florence, Venice, and Rome.
Northern Renaissance
Renaissance movement in Northern Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Focused more on religious reform and detailed realism in art.
Key figures include Albrecht Dürer and Jan van Eyck.
Jan van Eyck
Flemish painter (c. 1390-1441).
Known for his detailed and realistic oil paintings.
Famous works include the "Ghent Altarpiece" and "Arnolfini Portrait."
Albrecht Dürer
German painter and printmaker (1471-1528).
Known for his woodcuts, engravings, and self-portraits.
A leading figure of the Northern Renaissance.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Flemish painter (c. 1525-1569).
Known for his depictions of peasant life and landscapes.
Famous works include "The Harvesters" and "The Tower of Babel."
Raphael
Italian painter and architect (1483-1520).
Known for his Madonnas and the frescoes in the Vatican's Raphael Rooms- school of athens
A master of composition and the idealized human form.
Women in the Arts
Women in the Renaissance had limited opportunities to become artists.
Some, like Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi, gained recognition.
Faced significant barriers due to societal expectations and gender norms.
Black Africans in Renaissance Europe
Black Africans were present in Europe during the Renaissance, often as servants, slaves, or courtiers.
Some achieved notable positions, such as musicians or artists.
Their presence is depicted in various works of art from the period.
Hierarchy of Wealth
Social stratification based on wealth, prominent during the Renaissance.
Wealthy merchants and bankers often held power over poorer classes.
Influenced the political and social structures of Italian city-states.
Querelle des Femmes
"The Woman Question," a debate about the role and status of women.
Began in the late Middle Ages and continued through the Renaissance.
Addressed issues of women's education, rights, and societal roles.
Christine de Pizan
French poet and author (1364-1430).
One of the first women to make a living as a writer.
Known for works defending women, such as "The Book of the City of Ladies."
New Monarchs
European rulers in the 15th and 16th centuries who centralized power.
Examples include Henry VII of England, Ferdinand, and Isabella of Spain.
Strengthened royal authority and reduced the power of the nobility.
Taille
A direct tax imposed by the French monarchy on the common people.
Became a significant source of revenue for the crown in the late Middle Ages.
Unpopular and often a cause of peasant unrest.
Henry VII
King of England (1485-1509) and founder of the Tudor dynasty.
Ended the Wars of the Roses by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.
Strengthened the monarchy and established the Court of the Star Chamber.
Isabella & Ferdinand
Catholic Monarchs of Spain (r. 1474-1516) who united Spain through their marriage.
Initiated the Reconquista, expelling Muslims from Granada.
Sponsored Christopher Columbus's voyage to the New World in 1492.
Court of the Star Chamber
A judicial body established by Henry VII in England.
Used to deal with cases of noble misconduct and enforce royal authority.
Known for its secretive and often harsh proceedings.
Reconquista
The Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
Completed in 1492 with the capture of Granada by Ferdinand and Isabella.
Marked the end of centuries of Muslim presence in Spain.
Inquisition
A Church-led effort to root out heresy, particularly in Spain.
Established by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1478.
Targeted Jews, Muslims, and later Protestants, often using torture.
“Purity of Blood” Laws
Spanish laws (limpieza de sangre) that discriminated against those of Jewish or Muslim ancestry.
Used to determine eligibility for certain positions and rights.
Reflected the growing importance of religious and ethnic purity in Spain.
Polish Problems
Refers to the political difficulties faced by Poland in maintaining its independence.
Poland struggled with internal divisions and external threats from neighboring powers.
Eventually led to the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century
Ivan III
Grand Prince of Moscow (r. 1462-1505), also known as Ivan the Great.
Expanded Russian territory and centralized power.
Laid the foundation for the Russian state, breaking free from Mongol rule
Mehmet II
Ottoman Sultan (r. 1444-1446, 1451-1481) also known as Mehmet the Conqueror.
Captured Constantinople in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Expanded the Ottoman Empire into the Balkans and Anatolia.
Charles V
Holy Roman Emperor (r. 1519-1556) and King of Spain as Charles I.
Ruler of a vast empire, including Spain, the Americas, and much of Europe.
Struggled with religious conflicts, particularly the Protestant Reformation.
Carnival
A festive season preceding Lent, characterized by feasts, parades, and revelry.
Popular in medieval and Renaissance Europe, particularly in Catholic regions.
Served as a social release and an opportunity for reversal of social norms.
Nuclear Family
A family unit consisting of parents and their children.
Became increasingly common in Renaissance Europe, replacing extended family structures.
Reflects the emphasis on individual households and privacy.
Delayed Marriage
A common practice in Renaissance Europe where people married later in life, often in their late 20s or 30s.
Due to economic and social factors, such as needing to establish a household.
Resulted in lower birth rates and smaller family sizes.
Blood Sports
Forms of entertainment involving the shedding of blood, often in animal fights.
Popular in medieval and Renaissance Europe, including activities like bear-baiting.
Reflects the violent and brutal aspects of popular culture at the time.
Stocks
A form of punishment where offenders were publicly humiliated by being locked in wooden devices.
Common in medieval and Renaissance Europe for minor offenses.
Served as a deterrent and a way to maintain public order.
Indian Ocean Trade
A vast network of maritime trade routes connecting East Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.
Flourished from ancient times through the Renaissance.
Facilitated the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas.
Malacca
A strategic port city on the Malay Peninsula.
A key center of trade in the Indian Ocean, linking East Asia and the Middle East.
Controlled by various powers, including the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Gold/Slave Trade in Africa
The trade of gold and enslaved people from Africa, particularly West Africa, to Europe and the Americas.
Played a significant role in the global economy from the 15th century onwards.
Contributed to the wealth of European nations and the devastation of African societies.
1453
The year Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Turks under Mehmet II.
Marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and a turning point in European and Middle Eastern history.
Often seen as the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance.
Venetian & Genoese Merchants
Dominant traders in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Played key roles in the exchange of goods between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Their wealth and influence contributed to the prosperity of their respective city-states.
Economic Motives
The desire for wealth and resources driving European exploration and colonization.
Included the search for new trade routes, precious metals, and profitable colonies.
A key factor in the European expansion during the Age of Exploration.
Religious Motives
The desire to spread Christianity and convert non-Christians.
Often intertwined with economic and political goals in European exploration.
Justified the colonization of new lands and the subjugation of indigenous peoples.
Conquistadors
Spanish conquerors who explored and colonized the Americas in the 16th century.
Led by figures like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.
Responsible for the defeat of the Aztec and Incan empires.
Caravel
A small, fast ship used by Portuguese and Spanish explorers during the Age of Exploration.
Designed for long voyages, with lateen sails for better maneuverability.
Key to the success of early European exploration efforts.
Ptolemy’s Geography
An ancient Greek text that was rediscovered in Europe during the Renaissance.
Provided a comprehensive guide to the known world and influenced Renaissance cartography.
Though inaccurate, it was a key reference for European explorers.
Compass
Navigational instrument used to determine direction.
Became essential for maritime exploration during the Age of Exploration.
Allowed sailors to navigate more accurately and venture farther from land.
Prince Henry the Navigator
Portuguese prince (1394-1460) who sponsored early voyages of exploration.
Established a school for navigators and encouraged the exploration of the African coast.
Played a key role in the early phases of the Portuguese exploration.
Portuguese Trading Cities
Key ports established by the Portuguese along the African and Asian coasts during the Age of Exploration.
Served as hubs for trade in spices, gold, and other goods.
Examples include Goa, Malacca, and Mozambique.
Bartholomeu Dias
Portuguese explorer who was the first to sail around the southern tip of Africa in 1488.
His voyage opened the sea route to Asia.
Paved the way for later explorations by Vasco da Gama and others
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer who reached India by sea in 1498.
His voyage established a direct trade route between Europe and Asia.
Significantly boosted Portuguese wealth and influence.
Christopher Columbus
Genoese navigator who sailed under the Spanish flag.
Made four voyages to the Americas between 1492 and 1504.
His discovery of the New World opened the Americas to European exploration and colonization.
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494, dividing the New World between them.
Spain received most of the Americas, while Portugal gained control of Brazil and parts of Africa and Asia.
Helped prevent conflict between the two major colonial powers.
Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (1519-1522).
Although Magellan was killed in the Philippines, his expedition proved the world was round.
His voyage marked a major milestone in global exploration.
French Canadian Fur Trade
The trading of furs, especially beaver pelts, between French settlers and Indigenous peoples in North America.
A major economic activity in New France during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Contributed to the French colonial economy and expansion into the interior of North America.
Aztec Empire
A powerful Mesoamerican civilization centered in present-day Mexico.
Conquered by the Spanish under Hernán Cortés in 1521.
Known for its complex society, impressive architecture, and religious practices.
Incan Empire
A vast empire in the Andes of South America, with its capital at Cusco.
Conquered by the Spanish under Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s.
Noted for its advanced engineering, including terraced agriculture and road systems.
Viceroyalties
Administrative divisions in the Spanish colonies, each ruled by a viceroy representing the Spanish crown.
Key viceroyalties included New Spain (Mexico) and Peru.
Helped manage the vast Spanish Empire in the Americas.
Encomienda System
A labor system in Spanish colonies where colonists were granted the right to extract labor and tribute from Indigenous people.
In exchange, the colonists were expected to protect and Christianize the Indigenous population.
Often led to severe exploitation and abuse of Indigenous peoples.
Mita
A labor system used by the Incas, later adopted by the Spanish in their colonies.
Required Indigenous people to work on public projects, such as mining.
Often harsh and exploitative, contributing to the decline of Indigenous populations.
Role of Women in Colonization
Women in colonial societies often played roles as settlers, laborers, and intermediaries.
Some women, especially in Spanish America, managed estates and businesses.
Their roles were often limited by gender norms, but they contributed to the colonial economy and society.
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of goods, ideas, plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.
Introduced new crops like potatoes and corn to Europe, while bringing horses and cattle to the Americas.
Had profound impacts on global populations, economies, and environments.
Smallpox
A deadly disease that was brought to the Americas by European colonists.
Decimated Indigenous populations, who had no immunity to it.
Played a major role in the collapse of Native American civilizations.
European Livestock
Animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep introduced to the Americas by European colonists.
Transformed agriculture and transportation in the New World.
Also caused environmental changes and conflicts with Indigenous peoples.
Corn
A staple crop originally from the Americas, also known as maize.
Spread to Europe, Africa, and Asia after the Columbian Exchange.
Became a key food source worldwide, transforming diets and agriculture
Potatoes
A tuber native to the Andes in South America.
Introduced to Europe through the Columbian Exchange, where it became a staple crop.
Helped sustain population growth in Europe due to its nutritional value.
Sugarcane
A tropical plant used to produce sugar, first cultivated in Asia.
Brought to the Americas by European colonists, where it became a major cash crop.
The demand for sugar drove the transatlantic slave trade, as plantations required extensive labor.
Atlantic Slave Trade
The forced transportation of Africans to the Americas as part of the triangular trade.
Fueled the economies of European colonies through the labor of enslaved people.
Led to the displacement, suffering, and death of millions of Africans.
Potosí
A city in present-day Bolivia that was the site of a massive silver mine.
Became one of the wealthiest cities in the world during the 16th century.
The silver from Potosí fueled the Spanish economy and global trade.
Spanish Silver
Silver mined in the Americas, particularly from Potosí, that was shipped to Spain.
Became the basis of Spain's wealth and power in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Also led to inflation and economic challenges in Spain and Europe.
Inflation
The general increase in prices and the decline in the value of money.
In 16th-century Europe, inflation was partly caused by the influx of silver from the Americas.
Contributed to economic instability and social unrest.
Dutch East India Company
A powerful Dutch trading company founded in 1602.
Dominated trade between Europe and Asia, particularly in spices.
Played a key role in the Dutch Golden Age and the establishment of Dutch colonial empires.
Jesuit Missionaries
Members of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order founded in 1540.
Played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and in spreading Christianity globally.
Established missions in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, often blending local cultures with Christian teachings.
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Spanish Dominican friar and historian (1484-1566).
Known for advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Americas.
Wrote extensively about the abuses of the encomienda system and called for reform.
Castas
A hierarchical system of racial classification in Spanish America.
Created a complex social structure based on the mixture of European, Indigenous, and African ancestry.
Reflected the social and racial divisions in colonial Latin American societies.
Scientific Justification (Race/Gender)
The use of pseudo-scientific theories to justify racial and gender inequalities.
Became prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries, influencing attitudes and policies.
Used to rationalize the subjugation of non-Europeans and the marginalization of women.
Michel de Montaigne
French philosopher and writer (1533-1592).
Known for developing the essay as a literary form.
His works explored themes of skepticism, cultural relativism, and the nature of human experience.
William Shakespeare
English playwright and poet (1564-1616).
Widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language.
His works include tragedies like "Hamlet," comedies like "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and historical plays like "Henry V."
Price Revolution
A period of rising prices in Europe during the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Largely caused by the influx of silver and gold from the Americas.
Led to economic and social changes, including the decline of feudalism and the rise of capitalism.
Joint-Stock Company
A business entity where different investors own shares of the company.
Played a key role in European exploration and colonization, as they allowed for the pooling of resources.
Examples include the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company.
Bank of Amsterdam
Established in 1609, it became the first modern central bank.
Provided a stable currency and facilitated international trade.
Contributed to Amsterdam's status as a leading financial center in Europe.
Mercantilism
An economic theory and practice that dominated European economic policy from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Focused on accumulating wealth, particularly gold and silver, through a favorable balance of trade.
Encouraged state intervention in the economy and the establishment of colonies to provide raw materials.
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