Renaissance & Age of Discovery – Practice Flashcards (AP European History ’19, Unit 1)

A comprehensive set of practice questions (Question and Answer) covering the major topics from the Renaissance and Age of Discovery as outlined in the lecture notes (pages 1–11).

What does the term Renaissance mean and what does it signify in European history?

It means rebirth and refers to a period of accelerated growth in multiple aspects of European society.

What sparked a new worldview in Europe during the Renaissance?

The rediscovery of works from ancient Greece and Rome and systematic observations of the natural world.

How did the visual arts participate in the Renaissance?

They incorporated new ideas to promote personal, political, and religious goals and reflected rising naturalism.

What were the primary motives driving Europeans to explore and settle overseas?

Commercial and religious motives to explore and establish colonies.

What economic shift helped shape European society during the Renaissance?

The growth of commercial and agricultural capitalism, alongside continued medieval social structures.

What is the modern concept of sovereignty mentioned in the notes?

The struggle for political centralization within and among states and the rise of secular legal systems.

Why is Italy considered the cradle of the Renaissance?

Italy bore ruins of a great past, fell Constantinople (1453) bringing Greek manuscripts, and housed rich trade networks.

What effect did the Black Plague have on Italy economically?

Labor shortages led to increased wages and buying power as the population declined.

How did trade influence the Italian city-states during the Renaissance?

Powerful city-states traded with the world via the Middle East, exchanging ideas and wealth.

What is Humanism in the Italian Renaissance?

A system prioritizing human values, reviving classical literature, and developing new scholarly methods.

Name the four foundational Renaissance themes.

Individualism, Realism, Activism, and Secularism.

Who was Petrarch and why is he significant?

A leading humanist who studied Greek and Latin classics and helped kick-start the Renaissance.

What was the impact of humanist ideas and the printing press on education?

Printing spread Greek and Roman texts, challenged universities and the Church, and shifted education toward classical texts and new scientific methods.

What is civic humanism and how did it relate to the Italian city-states?

A form of humanism that linked classical learning to active public service and political life in city-states.

Which Italian cities were central to the Renaissance and what was each known for?

Florence (center of the Renaissance), Venice (trade hub), Papal States (theocracy and papal patronage).

What were the goals of Renaissance papal patronage?

To beautify Rome and enhance prestige, exemplified by projects like St. Peter’s Basilica.

What was the Concordat of Bologna and what did it establish?

Pope gained church revenue from France; the king could tax the clergy and appoint bishops.

What characterized Secular Popes of the Renaissance?

Highly political leaders with military power who interfered in Italian state affairs.

Who was Niccolò Machiavelli and what is his key claim in The Prince?

A political theorist who argued that it is better to be feared than loved, and that the end justifies the means.

What is Baldassare Castiglione known for?

Wrote The Courtier, outlining secular ideals and appropriate behavior at court.

Who was Leonardo Bruni and what was his contribution to Renaissance thought?

An intellectual who promoted education for women, albeit with limited scope.

What artistic innovation transformed Renaissance painting?

Perspective, including the vanishing point, which created 3D effects on a 2D surface.

Name three major Renaissance artists and one contribution for each.

Michelangelo (David, Vatican commissions), Donatello (sculptural innovations), Brunelleschi (dome for Florence Cathedral).

What is naturalism in Renaissance art?

Human-centered portrayals that emphasize realistic, lifelike representation of people and daily life.

Which artist painted The School of Athens and what does it represent?

Raphael; it embodies classical ideals and the humanist synthesis of philosophy and learning.

What are some key works of Leonardo da Vinci and their significance?

Mona Lisa (mastery of portrait realism) and overall exemplification of the “Renaissance man.”

Which Northern Renaissance figures are noted for their humanist and religious focus?

Sir Thomas More (Utopia), William Shakespeare (Renaissance ideals in drama), Erasmus (In Praise of Folly).

What is Christian Humanism and who were its exemplars?

A mix of Renaissance learning with religious reform; Erasmus and von Hutten are key figures.

What role did the Printing Press play in spreading Renaissance ideas?

Mass production of texts, spread of vernacular literature, and challenge to ecclesiastical and scholarly authorities.

What is movable type and why is it important?

A printing method that enabled cheaper, faster production of books, accelerating idea dissemination.

What are New Monarchies and what did they do for state power?

Centralized authority, monopolies on tax collection, standing armies, centralized justice, and control over religion.

How did Burgundy illustrate early modern statecraft?

A patchwork of provinces with elaborate ceremonies, a large standing army, and efforts to unify under dynastic rule.

What was the outcome of the Fall of Burgundy?

France seized Burgundian lands; Mary of Burgundy’s death led to Habsburg gains in the Low Countries.

Why was France described as “behind” in this era?

The Hundred Years’ War and Burgundian threats delayed centralization and reform.

What was the Concordat of Bologna and its significance for France?

Gave the French crown power to tax the clergy and appoint bishops, increasing royal control over the church.

What role did England play in the Renaissance era’s political shift?

The War of the Roses weakened nobles and strengthened the monarchy under Henry VII; London grew as a commercial center.

What industries drove English economic growth in the late 15th century?

The cloth industry, especially wool from the Low Countries, and rising banking and merchant power.

What was Spain’s path to unification and religious consolidation?

Unification under Ferdinand and Isabella, Reconquista, and the creation of the Catholic Monarchs; expulsion of Jews (Conversos) in 1492.

What were the Hermandades?

Alliances of cities and nobles to curb noble power and strengthen royal authority in Spain.

What was the Reconquista?

Systematic expulsion of Muslims from Spain and the creation of a unified Christian realm.

Who were the Conversos and what happened to them?

Jews who converted to Christianity; faced suspicion and eventual forced conversions or exile in 1492.

What major challenges did Eastern Europe face in this era?

The Holy Roman Empire’s fragmentation, the Reichstag’s oscillating power, Ottoman expansion, and Muscovy’s rise.

What is the Reichstag?

The Imperial Diet; a legislative body in the Holy Roman Empire with powers that fluctuated over time.

What was the Ottoman Empire’s impact on Europe in this period?

Conquered Constantinople in 1453, signaling a broader threat and ongoing conflict with Christendom.

What is meant by the phrase “Third Rome” in Muscovy?

Moscow’s claim of religious and political leadership as a successor to Rome after the Mongol era.

What were the two central traditions shaping Muscovite autocracy?

Religion (Orthodox defense and legitimation) and service (nobles’ dependence on rulers).

What navigational tools advanced exploration in this era?

Astrolabe (latitude/longitude by time of day), lateen sail (triangular sail for wind directions), and quadrant (latitude via North Star).

Who were the key Portuguese explorers and what did they accomplish?

Prince Henry the Navigator (sailing school), Bartholomeu Dias (Cape of Good Hope), Vasco da Gama (reached India by sea).

What Chinese and Iberian routes did the Spanish and Portuguese follow in exploration?

Portuguese established a trading network along the African coast and in Asia and the Americas; Spanish explored the Americas and Caribbean.

What were the major figures associated with Spain’s maritime era?

Christopher Columbus (reached the Caribbean), Amerigo Vespucci (the Americas named after him), Ferdinand Magellan (first circumnavigation).

Where did the Columbian Exchange occur and what moved between the continents?

A global exchange between Europe and the Americas; Europe to America: wheat, horses; America to Europe: potatoes, tobacco, turkeys; diseases like smallpox and measles, and syphilis in the opposite direction.

What was the Atlantic trade’s broader economic impact?

Shift of economic power from the Mediterranean to Atlantic states and growth of a global economy.

What was the African slave trade’s origin and the Middle Passage?

Shift from native labor (encomienda) to African slavery; the Middle Passage transported enslaved Africans to the New World.

What is mercantilism?

An economic theory that wealth is accumulated through profitable balances of trade, supported by state intervention and protectionism.

What is the Columbian Exchange chart’s key takeaway?

It linked the Old and New Worlds through crops, animals, and disease, reshaping global economies.

What is the Line of Demarcation and who defined it?

A geographic boundary dividing Spain and Portugal’s spheres of influence, established by the Pope (Alexander VI) and later ratified by the Treaty of Tordesillas.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas and its effect?

Divided non-European world between Spain and Portugal, reinforcing European competition and royal claims.

What is the significance of the Dutch East India Company?

One of the first stock-backed companies that funded overseas exploration and established urban financial networks.

What major agricultural and social changes accompanied the Renaissance economy?

Enclosure and commercialization of agriculture; the price revolution; migration of peasants to cities; rise of new urban elites.

Who were the wealthier urban elites and what did they do?

Town elites—bankers and merchants—grew powerful and influenced cities and national politics.

What is the Little Ice Age?

A long period (roughly 1300–1870) of cooler temperatures and harsher winters affecting agriculture and society.

How did economic and social stress influence demographics in Europe?

Delayed marriage and childbearing, restrained population growth, and improved family economies.

What is the purpose of this set of flashcards?

To review key concepts, people, events, and ideas from the Renaissance and Age of Discovery as covered in AP European History Unit 1 notes.