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Causes of the Renaissance

The Renaissance began in 14th-century Italy due to wealth from trade in city-states, rediscovery of ancient Greek/Roman texts, patronage of arts by wealthy families, and the Black Death shaking faith in the Church.

Medici Family

A wealthy banking family from Florence who were major patrons of the arts, funding artists like Michelangelo and Botticelli.

Humanism

The core philosophy of the Renaissance focused on human potential, achievement, and worth, emphasizing the study of classical texts.

Secularism in the Renaissance

An increasing interest in worldly, non-religious matters; Renaissance thinkers depicted non-religious subjects in art.

Michelangelo

An Italian sculptor and painter famous for the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the sculpture David, embodying Renaissance ideals.

Leonardo da Vinci

A painter, sculptor, scientist, and inventor known for works like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Raphael

An Italian painter known for graceful compositions; famous for the School of Athens.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Author of The Prince, arguing that rulers should prioritize power maintenance, leading to the term 'Machiavellian.'

Albrecht Dürer

A German artist known for detailed woodcuts and engravings; blended Italian techniques with Northern European style.

Jan van Eyck

A Flemish painter known for pioneering oil painting techniques; famous for the Ghent Altarpiece.

Hans Holbein the Younger

A German-Swiss painter known for court portraits, contributing to Renaissance realism in Northern Europe.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

A Flemish painter celebrated for realistic depictions of peasant life and landscapes.

William Shakespeare

An English playwright and poet whose works explored deeply human themes through tragedies and comedies.

Martin Luther

A German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation by challenging Church corruption and writing the 95 Theses.

95 Theses

Martin Luther's list of arguments against Church abuses, especially the sale of indulgences, written in 1517.

Protestantism

A movement of Christians who protested against the Catholic Church, leading to various denominations such as Lutheranism and Calvinism.

John Calvin

A French theologian who developed Calvinism, introducing the concept of predestination.

Jesuits

A Catholic religious order founded in 1540 that played a key role in the Counter-Reformation.

Council of Trent

Meetings held by the Catholic Church from 1545 to 1563 that defined Church doctrine in response to Protestant challenges.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Old World and the New World after Columbus's voyages.

Scientific Revolution

A transformation in how Europeans understood the natural world through observation and experimentation, occurring from the 1500s to the 1700s.

Heliocentric Theory

The idea that the Sun, not the Earth, is at the center of the solar system, proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus.

Isaac Newton

An English scientist known for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

Thomas Hobbes

An English philosopher who argued for a strong ruler to prevent chaos, outlined in Leviathan.

John Locke

An English philosopher who identified natural rights (life, liberty, property) and believed government must protect these rights.

Voltaire

A French writer known for advocating freedom of religion and speech while criticizing the Catholic Church.

Montesquieu

A French philosopher who proposed separation of powers to prevent tyranny in government.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A French philosopher who believed in the natural goodness of humans and the necessity of a government reflecting the general will.

Mary Wollstonecraft

An English writer who argued for women's rights and education in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Mercantilism

An economic theory suggesting a nation’s wealth depends on its accumulation of gold and silver and maintaining a favorable trade balance.

Absolute Monarch

A ruler with total control over the government and society, justified by the belief in divine right.

Louis XIV

The Sun King, an absolute monarch of France known for centralizing power and building the Palace of Versailles.

Thirty Years' War

A devastating conflict in Europe from 1618 to 1648 characterized by religious and political strife.

Congress of Vienna

A series of meetings in 1814-1815 aimed at restoring stability and order in Europe following Napoleon's defeat.