AP European History G359 Unit 1 Key Terms: Renaissance and Exploration 1450-1648

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Renaissance and exploration terms, people, and events from the notes.

Feudal System

Political, military, and social system in the Middle Ages based on the holding of lands in fief and the lord–vassal relationship.

The Great Schism

Crisis (1414-1418) with two competing popes in France and Rome; ended by the Council of Constance.

Renaissance

Humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread across Europe.

Oligarchy

A small, powerful group (nobility plus commercial elite) that ruled a city and surrounding countryside.

Republic

A form of government claimed by some Italian city-states, but often effectively controlled by a small elite.

Humanism

Philosophical and literary current (1400-1650) emphasizing the classics, secularism, and individual expression.

Individualism

Emphasis on personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of one's talents.

Nicolo Machiavelli

Florentine diplomat and writer of The Prince, advocating realistic, sometimes feared leadership.

Baldassare Castiglione

Author of The Book of the Courtier, outlining the Renaissance ideal of the well-rounded courtier.

Lorenzo Valla

Humanist known for proving the Donation of Constantine was a forgery.

Donation of Constantine

A forged document later debunked by Lorenzo Valla.

Christian Humanism

Renaissance movement combining humanist learning with Christian faith, influencing reforms.

Utopia

Thomas More’s 1516 work depicting an imaginary rational society with common property.

Desiderius Erasmus

Dutch scholar, the ‘Prince of Northern Humanists,’ critiquing Church practices in The Praise of Folly.

Patrons

Kings, popes, and wealthy individuals who funded artists, musicians, and scholars.

Querelle de Femmes

Literary debate on the nature and status of women beginning around 1500.

The Book of the Courtier

Castiglione’s Renaissance manual describing the ideal courtier.

Renaissance man

A person skilled in multiple liberal arts and social graces, exemplified by the Courtier.

Christine de Pizan

French writer who produced early feminist works challenging women's roles.

Pragmatic Sanction of the Bourges (1438)

Charles VII asserted council supremacy over the papacy and gave France control over bishop appointments.

Court of the Star Chamber

Judicial body established by Henry VII to curb aristocratic troublemaking.

Hermandades

Spanish brotherhoods acting as local police and tribunals to curb aristocratic rebellion.

Treaty of Lodi (1454-1455)

Peace among Italian city-states creating balance of power and stability until 1494.

Girolamo Savonarola

Florentine Dominican who opposed corruption, expelled Medici, later executed for criticizing the Pope.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Old and New Worlds.

Astrolabe

Navigation instrument used to measure celestial altitudes and determine latitude.

Stern-post rudder

Rudder design, along with lateen sails, increasing maneuverability and cargo capacity.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese royal patron of exploration (early Atlantic voyages).

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer who reached Calicut (India) by sailing around Africa in 1497.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

Line of Demarcation dividing Spanish and Portuguese possessions in the Americas.

Hernando Cortes

Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

Ferdinand Magellan

Led the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth (1522 completion).

Christopher Columbus

Explorer who sailed for Spain seeking a westward route to Asia and opened Americas to European contact.

Encomienda System

Spanish colonial system granting conquerors the right to use indigenous labor.

Tenochtitlan

Capital city of the Aztec Empire.

Conquistador

Spanish conqueror in the Americas during the 16th century.

Viceroy

Ruler governing a colony on behalf of the sovereign.

Price Revolution

Long period of inflation (late 15th–early 17th century) in Western Europe.

Dutch East India Company

1602 multinational corporation that monopolized spice trade; first publicly traded company.

Joint Stock Company

Business entity where investors buy shares and share profits and risks.

Bank of Amsterdam

Founded 1609; first major European deposit and transfer bank.