AP European History

Renaissance

A period of renewed interest in art and learning in Europe, beginning in Italy in the 14th century

Humanism

An intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements, emphasizing classical texts

Secularism

The principle of separating religion from political, social, and educational institutions

Individualism

The belief in the importance of individual achievements and rights

Civic Humanism

The belief that individuals owe a service to their community and its government

Patronage

Financial support given to artists, writers, and scholars, often by wealthy individuals or institutions

Printing Press

A machine for printing text and images, invented by Johannes Gutenberg, revolutionizing the spread of information

Vernacular

The everyday language spoken by ordinary people in a particular region

Northern Renaissance

The spread of Renaissance ideas to northern Europe, characterized by a focus on religious reform and the use of the vernacular

Johannes Gutenberg

Inventor of the movable-type printing press, which significantly impacted the spread of knowledge

Leonardo da Vinci

Renaissance artist and inventor known for works like "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa"

Michelangelo

Renaissance sculptor and painter known for works like the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David

Raphael

Renaissance painter known for his frescoes in the Vatican and his portrayal of the Madonna

Donatello

Renaissance sculptor known for his work in bas-relief and his statue of David

Medici Family

Wealthy Italian family who were major patrons of the arts and rulers of Florence

Niccolò Machiavelli

Political theorist known for "The Prince," a treatise on political power and leadership

The Prince

A political treatise by Niccolò Machiavelli, offering advice to rulers on how to maintain power

Johann Tetzel

A Dominican friar known for selling indulgences, which sparked Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Indulgences

Payments made to the Church that were believed to reduce punishment for sins

Martin Luther

German monk whose 95 Theses criticized the Catholic Church, sparking the Reformation

95 Theses

A list of propositions for debate, nailed to a church door by Martin Luther in 1517, criticizing Church practices

Diet of Worms

An imperial council convened in 1521 where Martin Luther was asked to recant his writings

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor who opposed the Reformation and summoned the Diet of Worms

Peace of Augsburg

A 1555 agreement allowing German princes to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism as the religion of their territories

Ulrich Zwingli

Swiss reformer who led the Reformation in Switzerland and had differing views from Martin Luther

John Calvin

French theologian who developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and a strict sense of morality

Calvinism

A branch of Protestantism founded by John Calvin, emphasizing predestination and the authority of Scripture

Predestination

The doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save

Anabaptists

Radical Protestant sect advocating for adult baptism and separation of church and state

English Reformation

The process by which England broke away from the Catholic Church, leading to the establishment of the Church of England

Henry VIII

King of England who initiated the English Reformation to annul his marriage and gain political control over the Church

Act of Supremacy

A 1534 law declaring the king as the supreme head of the Church of England

Council of Trent

A series of Catholic meetings (1545–1563) to reform the Church and counter the Reformation

Jesuits

Members of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic order founded to combat Protestantism and spread Catholic education

Spanish Inquisition

A Church-led institution that sought to enforce Catholic orthodoxy in Spain

Huguenots

French Protestants influenced by Calvinism

Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree granting religious tolerance to French Protestants (Huguenots)

Reconquista

The centuries-long effort by Christian states to recapture territory from Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic, opening the Americas to European exploration

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa to reach India, opening a sea route for trade

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who promoted exploration and founded a school for navigators

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer whose expedition first circumnavigated the globe

Caravel

A small, fast, and maneuverable ship used by Portuguese and Spanish explorers

Astrolabe

A navigational instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of stars

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasized the accumulation of wealth and colonial expansion to strengthen the state

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and Europe

Encomienda

A Spanish system granting settlers the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous people