Key Themes in Renaissance to Modern History

Classical civilizations

Civilizations from ancient Greece and Rome.

Humanism

A cultural and intellectual movement emphasizing human potential and achievements.

Secular

Concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters.

Renaissance Man

A person with knowledge and skills in a variety of fields.

Renaissance Art

Art characterized by perspective, realism, and classical influence.

Renaissance Artists

Notable figures such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Raphael.

The vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

Renaissance Writers

Prominent authors like Boccaccio, Petrarch, and Machiavelli.

Christian/Northern Humanism

A branch of humanism that emphasizes the importance of Christianity.

William Shakespeare

An English playwright and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language.

Johann Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Inventor of the movable-type printing press, which revolutionized the production of books.

Issues within the Catholic Church

Problems that led to the Protestant Reformation, including corruption and the selling of indulgences.

Martin Luther

A key figure in the Protestant Reformation known for his 95 Theses.

Selling of Indulgences

The practice of selling pardons for sins, which was criticized by reformers.

95 Theses

A document by Martin Luther that criticized the Catholic Church's practices.

The Protestant Reformation

A religious movement that led to the establishment of Protestant churches.

Lutheranism

A major branch of Protestant Christianity founded on the teachings of Martin Luther.

Henry VIII, Act of Supremacy

Legislation that declared Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Elizabeth I

The last monarch of the Tudor dynasty, known for her strong leadership and the Elizabethan era.

The Church of England/Anglican Church

The national church of England, formed during the Reformation.

Scientific Revolution

A period of major scientific advancements in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Theory

The debate between the Earth-centered and Sun-centered models of the universe.

Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler

Astronomers who contributed to the heliocentric theory and planetary motion.

Galileo Galilei

An astronomer known for his conflict with the Catholic Church over heliocentrism.

The Scientific Method

A systematic approach to inquiry based on observation and experimentation.

Isaac Newton, Laws of Universal Gravity

Formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

The Spice Trade

The trade of spices that was a major economic driver in the Age of Exploration.

Early Portuguese Travel & Explorers

Explorers like Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama who navigated new trade routes.

Spanish Competition and Conquest

The rivalry among European powers for territory and resources in the Americas.

Christopher Columbus

An explorer credited with the European discovery of the Americas in 1492.

Colonization

The act of establishing control over foreign lands and peoples.

Hernando Cortés & the Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors known for their expeditions in the Americas, particularly against the Aztecs.

Francisco Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Inca Empire.

Encomienda System

A labor system that rewarded Spanish colonists with the labor of indigenous people.

The Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership and the free market.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses owned by shareholders that invested in exploration and trade.

Mercantilist Policy

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances.

Slavery

The practice of owning individuals as property and forcing them to work.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of significant agricultural development marked by the enclosure movement, crop rotation, and new harvesting technologies.

Industrialization/The Industrial Revolution

The transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

Why was England first to Industrialize?

Factors of Production such as natural resources, labor, and capital.

The Textile Industry

An industry that saw significant growth during the Industrial Revolution, focusing on the production of fabric and clothing.

Revolution in Transportation

Innovations such as the Steam Engine, Canals & Steamboats, Roadways, Railways & Trains.

Urbanization

The process of making an area more urban, often leading to the growth of cities.

Urban/Industrial Living & Working Conditions

The often poor conditions faced by workers in cities during the Industrial Revolution.

Middle Class vs. Working Class

A social distinction between the economically secure middle class and the laboring working class.

Negatives/Positives of Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution brought both advancements and challenges, including economic growth and social issues.

Adam Smith and Laissez Faire Capitalism

An economist known for advocating minimal government intervention in the economy.

Utilitarianism

A philosophical theory that suggests actions are right if they promote happiness, associated with Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

Utopian Socialism

A political philosophy advocating for the establishment of a perfect society through cooperative means, associated with Robert Owen.

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society, associated with Marx and Engels.

Unionization

The process of organizing workers into unions to advocate for their rights and interests.

Strikes

Work stoppages initiated by employees to express grievances or demand changes.

Reform Laws

Legislation aimed at improving social conditions and labor rights.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.

Social Darwinism/Racism

A belief that social progress results from the survival of the fittest, often used to justify imperialism and racism.

Raw Materials & New Markets

The resources needed for production and the demand for goods in new territories.

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884-1885 where European powers divided Africa among themselves.

Boer War

A conflict between the British Empire and the Boer settlers in South Africa.

East India Trading Company

A British company that played a significant role in the trade and colonization of India.

Sepoys

Indian soldiers employed by the British East India Company.

Jewel in the Crown

A term referring to India as the most valuable colony of the British Empire.

British restrictions on Indian goods/industry

Policies that limited the production and trade of Indian goods to benefit British interests.

Consequences of Colonization

The social, economic, and political impacts resulting from the establishment of colonies.

Sepoy Rebellion/Mutiny

An uprising against British rule in India in 1857.

Raj

The period of British rule in India from 1858 to 1947.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation.

Indian National Congress & Muslim League

Political organizations that played significant roles in the Indian independence movement.

Impact of WWI on Nationalism

The war intensified nationalist sentiments and movements in colonized nations.

Rowlatt Acts

Laws passed in India that allowed the government to suppress dissent.

Amritsar Massacre

A tragic event in 1919 where British troops killed hundreds of Indian civilians.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

A leader of the Indian independence movement known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

Civil Disobedience

The active refusal to obey certain laws as a form of protest.

Salt March

A nonviolent protest led by Gandhi against British salt laws in 1930.

Limited Self-Rule

The Government of India Act allowed for some degree of self-governance.

Congress Party

A major political party in India that played a key role in the independence movement.

Muslim League

A political party in India that advocated for the rights of Muslims.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

The leader of the Muslim League and first Governor-General of Pakistan.

Partition of India

The division of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947.

Jawaharlal Nehru

The first Prime Minister of India after independence.

Indira Gandhi

The first and only female Prime Minister of India.

Civil War in Pakistan

A conflict that arose in Pakistan after its independence.

Apartheid Segregation

A system of institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa.

African National Congress

A political party in South Africa that fought against apartheid.

Nelson Mandela

A leader in the struggle against apartheid and the first black president of South Africa.

Desmond Tutu

An Anglican bishop and social rights activist known for his work against apartheid.

Struggle with New Democracy

The challenges faced during the transition to democracy in South Africa.

Yellow River (Huang He), Yangtze River

Major rivers in China that have played a crucial role in its history and development.

Oracle bones

Ancient Chinese artifacts used for divination.

Chinese writing system

The logographic writing system used in the Chinese language.

The Dynastic Cycle

The historical pattern of the rise and fall of dynasties in China.

Zhou Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty known for its philosophical advancements and the Mandate of Heaven.

Mandate of Heaven

A political and religious doctrine used to justify the rule of the emperor of China.

Warring States period

A time of chaos and conflict in ancient China before the unification under the Qin.

Confucius

A Chinese philosopher whose teachings emphasized morality and ethics.

Analects

A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius.

Five relationships

Confucian concept outlining the key relationships in society.

Filial piety

A virtue of respect for one's parents and ancestors in Confucianism.

Laozi

An ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, founder of Daoism.