recovery and rebirth: the age of the renaissance

renaissance

A period meaning 'Rebirth' that renewed interests in art, literature, and philosophy in Europe from the 14th to 17th century.

hanseatic league

A trade alliance that established cities specializing in raw materials and facilitated trade between Northern Europe and Southern regions. (Denmark, Norway, England, Netherlands, etc)

estates

The social classes in France, comprising the clergy (1st), nobility (2nd), and everyone else (3rd), with the 3rd estate making up most of the population. The Church would lose its influence due to the power of the Estate decreasing, and nobles losing their influence to super wealthy entrepreneurs.

medici family

An influential Italian family who ruled Florence and supported Renaissance artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Micheangelo, contributing significantly to the cultural movement.

niccolo machiavelli

An author known for 'The Prince' in 1513 which discusses how monarchs should rule based on moral Christian principles. He claimed that people were ungrateful, fickle, deceptive, etc.

individualism

The focus on personal freedom and independence, encouraging secular thoughts and innovations in art during the Renaissance.

secularism

A cultural shift that focused on worldly affairs over religious authority, encouraging human-centered thinking over medieval emphasis on the afterlife.

humanism

An intellectual movement centered on studying classical works of Greece and Rome to create a vibrant and virtuous society.

civic humanism

The study and practice of humanities for the good of the society in which intellectual lives.

neoplatonism

A philosophical movement combining Platonic ideas with Christian thought, impacting art and literature for centuries.

pantheism

A philosophical view that God exists in everything and the universe is infinite, challenging traditional religious doctrines.

leonardo da vinci

Created the “Renaissance man” by excelling in art, science, engineering and anatomy. He created the artworks The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, innovative designs for inventions such as helicopters, tanks, anatomical studies through his notebook sketches, and served as an engineer and painter, leaving a major impact on art and science.

michelangelo

A significant artistic figure during the High Renaissance, recognized for his sculpting and painting that embodied humanism and emotional depth as shown in the Sistine Chapel.

new monarchies

The emergence of strong centralized monarchies in France and England, which restored the stability and increased royal power post-civil wars.

louis xi (the spider)

A French king known for his reforms after the 100 Years War and for modernizing the monarchy post his father's reign, King Charles VII.

war of the roses

A civil war in England between houses of Lancaster and York (1455-1487), which resulted in the rise of the Tudor dynasty.

spanish inquisition

An effort led by Isabella and Ferdinand to eliminate Muslim power in Spain, in which they separately ran their own individual kingdom and created a revolutionized army in Europe.

john wyclif

An English philosopher who translated the Bible in different languages and gathered followers who are known as Lollards. He advocated for church reform and was one of the greatest influences for Reformation.

jan hus

A church reformer who advocated for scriptural authority and criticized Catholic abuses. He called for a reform and attacked the excesses of the clergy as a priest, granted a safe passage to Rome before getting arrested and burnt at stake.

nepotism

The practice of favoring relatives for positions of power, commonly seen in the Catholic Church during the Renaissance. This helped popes and other powerful figures grow in power and enrich their families.