AP EURO UNIT 1 ULTIMATE REVIEW

What was the Renaissance?

• The renaissance meaning ¨rebirth¨ signifies the revival of Greek and Roman ideals after a period of dormancy during the middle ages

• it marks the transition from a medieval society, characterized by feudalism, agrarian economy, and church dominated culture (scholaticism) to a more modern society focused on commerce, humanism, and arts

• The classical era (800 BC to 500 CE) represents the peak of Greco-Roman civilization where the middle ages span from the fall of the roman empire to the renaissance

• the Renaissance spans from the 14th to 17th century

Why did the Renaissance begin in Italy?

• revival of trade, commerce, and towns

• sack of Constantinople 1453 —> Classical manuscripts rescued

• presence of antiquity stronger in Italy

• strong banking system —> Medici

Medieval Europe

• agricultural economy

• fedualism

• church dominated thought and culture

• scholasticism: theology based on following church dogma and Aristotle´s teachings

Renaissance Europe

• political centralization, national feelings

• urban, commercial-capitalist economy

• growing secular thought and culture

• humanism: unlimited potential and value of man

What was humansim?

• created by Petrarch

• unlimited potential of human beings

• reaction to scholasticism of middle ages

Petrarch

• Father of Humanism

• lived before 1450 but he still laid the intellectual framework for humanism

• Renaissance thinkers self-consciously understood themselves, as humanists in the vein of Petrarch

Science

period of scientific discovery and innovation

• Galileo and Kepler made significant contributions to astronomy and physics

• development of scientific method

Literature

characterized by a renewed interest in classical forms, humanism, vernacular language

• writers include Shakespeare, Dante, Miguel

• printing press spread writings and ideas quickly and cheaply

Secularism

the idea that ethical and moral standards should be based on human experience rather than divine authority. Not focused on religion.

Individualism

• core tenet of humanism

• uniqueness of each person and their achievements

ideas of renaissance

• all these new ideas were largely confined to a handful of elite folks at the beginning

• but in the 1440s with the invention of the printing press this changed.

• so much so these new ideas started challenging the institutional power of universities and the church

• ex: education underwent a significant change —> emphasis of liberal subjects

Pico Della Mirandola

Emphasized human potential in his work ¨oration on the dignity of man¨ arguing for the unique free will of humans to shape their destiny

Baldassare Castiglione

• authored ¨the book of the courtier¨ in 1528 describing the ideal renaissance man and woman (nobbility)

• argued an educated man should be skilled in all humanistic disciplines; write and speak with eloquence, be physically strong and mentally awake

Leonardo Bruni

wrote the new cicero in which he argued that the intellectual man was duty-bound to deploy his education in service of the state

Niccolo Machiavelli

• Florentine diplomat and political philosopher who wrote ¨the prince¨ which revolutionized political thought by advocating for realpolitik- the pragmatic, sometimes ruthless nature of leadership over moral ideals

• argued that maintaining state stability justifies deceit, breaking promises, and prioritizing being feared over loved —> ¨the ends justifies the means¨

• ¨How to¨ Manuel for rulers focused on maintaining political power

• believed humans are selfish and fickle so a rule can´t rely on their loyalty

• shift from christian morals to realpolitk

Renaissance art

• Medieval art portrayed exclusively religious themes rich with symbolism while renaissance art was focused on realism, humanism and individualism

• realistic portrayal of human figures and landscapes

• began to emphasize individualism, portraying subjects with distinct personalities and emotion

• mythological/secular themes

• techniques include: realism, naturalism, geometric perspective, liner perspective, anatomy, chiaroscuro, oil painting

Leonardo da vinci

• mona lisa

• last supper

• exemplified the ideal renaissance man

Michelangelo

• david

• Sistine chapel

• mastery in anatomy, emotional intensity, humanism

Raphael

• school of Athens

• humanism/philosophy

Botticelli

• birth of Venus

• classical mythology

Northern Renaissance

• with the help of the printing press the ideas of the Renaissance in Italy began to spread into the European continent

• the main ideas remained intact but the emphases changed

• ex: in Italy, the Renaissance thinkers championed individualism and secularism while thinkers in the north retained a more religious, christian framework for their thought

• art: The Northern Renaissance art was still naturalistic but a key difference was that it was more human centered —> considered ordinary objects and people as appropriate subjects

• ex: peter Bruegel the elder painted the Netherlands proverbs which depicts peasants and animals. Still naturalistic but just ordinary

• ex: Rembrant painted a slaughtered ox which is not elitist like the Italian renaissance just simple ordinary life

• took up more religious themes

Christian Humanism

• once humanism reached the North, people took Christian thought with it

• Northern Renaissance thinkers sought out early Christian writings along with Greek/roman classics and what they discovered in those ancient writings was a Christianity that seemed far more simpler and more pure than the complex church hierarchy of their own days, and so they sought to return to that simplicity —> christian humanism

• christian humanism taught that being religious would lead to efforts to reform society

• led to an impulse for reform in Northern Renaissance

Erasmus

• a christian humanist who wrote ¨praise of folly¨ which was a satire that undermined political and social institutions and criticized the corrupt aspects of religious hierarchies

• believed education in the classics and bible was the 1st step in lasting societal reform and that such renewal should be based not on secularism but the philosophy of Christ which emphasized morality and spirituality.

Albrecht Durer

• self portrait

• oil paintings and engravings

Peter Bruegel the elder

• peasant wedding

• Netherlandish proverbs

• focused on peasant life, landscapes etc

Jan van eyeck

• arnolfini portrait

• ghent altarpiece

• mastered oil painting

Printing press

• prior to the printing press books were copied by hand which made them expensive hence only the elite had access to the ideas books contained

• the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440 which revolutionized Europe

• books could now be produced quickly and cheaply allowing for widespread distribution of knowledge and ideas

• effects: ideas spread rapidly, renaissance would not have spread so quickly, people could easily discuss the ideas of books, increase in literary, demand for vernacular language

New monarchies

• In Europe kings shared powers with their nobles and the church. Nobles ended up with the most power and influence. But this began to change in the 1500s

• This period saw the emergence of powerful monarchies who centralized power and established strong, centralized states

• new monarchies took measures to take power away from church and nobility

What led to the emergence of new monarchies?

1) decline of feudalism: led to the emergence of new social/economic classes which challenged the feudal system

2) growth of trade/commerce: led to the emergence of a new class of wealthy merchants and bankers who supported the monarchies in change of political/economic privileges.

3) religious reformation: led to the emergence of new religious and political ideologies which challenged the authority of the catholic church and traditional power structures

How did new monarchies consolidate power:

1) centralization of power: the monarch became the ultimate authority in the state

2) establishment of a bureaucracy: established bureaucracies to manage affairs of the state, which allowed for more efficient and effective governance

3) expansion of armies: expanded armies to maintain their power and protect their territories

4) growth of national economies: establishing policies that encouraged the development of national industries

France

Francis I: created a standing army and established the concordat of bologna which gave the French monarchy control over the catholic church

Henry IV: ended wars of religion and established the bourbon dynasty which would rule until the French Revolution

Spain

Isabella and Ferdinand: established national taxes on property and created a massive bureaucracy

England

Henry VIII: established the Church of England and treason act

Elizabeth I: defeated Spanish armada, established England as a major naval power and act of uniformity

Motivations for Exploration

Gold: European countries were seeking new sources of wealth such as gold and silver. The goal of mercantilism economy was to get as much gold and silver and in order to do this a country needed more exports than imports, thus, European states established colonies to get more gold and raw materials

ex: Jean Baptiste Colbert, France´s economist who aimed to create policies in France that enabled French industry to create everything people needed so that they didn´t have to import those goods from elsewhere. In order to do this he abolished domestic tariffs and enacted steep tariffs on imported goods.

Moreover, Europeans demanded luxury goods from Asia. They wanted Eastern porcelain, spice and tea. However, the ottoman empire controlled the routes which those luxury goods would need to travel to Europe. Thus, the prices for those goods would be expensive. Therefore, this became a motivation for Europeans to find a sea route to Asia

God: Wanted to spread Christianity to new territories for example Spain. Competition of Protestantism Vs Catholicism. Jesuits were sent to south america.

Glory: European states were in competition with one another in terms of power and empire

How did European states accomplish exploration?

NEW TECHNOLOGY

• Cartography: the science of map making; maps this period where far more detailed and accurate

• caravel: small, highly maneuverable ship, meant for trade and shipping, fast

• lateen ship: triangular sail attached to a short mast, makes steering with wind more manageable

• compass: uses magnets for determining direction

• astrolabe: determines locations based on the position of the stars and planets

• these technologies came form Muslims and Chinese

Portugal empire

• wanted to gain access to the spice trade in Indian ocean

• Vasco De Gama sailed around the southern tip of Africa and eventually trade relations were established in the Indian ocean

• thus, the Portuguese established a trading post empire and dominated the Indian ocean trade in the 16th century

Spain Empire

• commissioned Christopher Columbus but he ended up finding the Americas, So, Spain claimed much of the Caribbean, central, south and North of America.

• introduction of European diseases allowed them to create a huge empire

France Empire

• claimed parts of North America and Canada.

• interested in trade not colonies

• got into fur trade

England empire

• settler colonies

• claimed North America and Caribbean

Rival Empires

• The conflicts/rivalries that arouse during this period were due to competition between European powers for territory, resources, and power

• the Rivalry between Spain and Portugal over control of the Americans led to the treaty of tortillas in 1494, which divided the new world between the 2 powers.

Colombian Exchange

Refers for the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, between the old world (Europe, Asia, Africa) and New World ( Americas) following Christopher Columbus arrival in the Americas in 1492

old world:

• introduction of maize, potatoes and tomatoes which led to population growth and improved diets

• gold and silver which led to increased power and wealth

• new diseases such as small pox which devastated native american populations by 90%

New world:

• new animals such as horses and cattle which transformed native american societies and allowed for more efficient agriculture

• new technologies such as guns and iron tools which gave Europeans a military advantage over Native Americans

Effects of Colombian exchange

• economic power shifted from the Mediterranean towards the Atlantic states. Antwerp became primary trade port.

• Americas: subjugation of people, Casta system, encomienda system

Causes of Slave Trade

• due to the establishment of plantation economies in the colonies of the new world

• after European powers took as much gold and silver as possible they realized that the Atlantic islands were hospitable for growing crops for export Plantations grew cash crops such as Tobacco, Sugarcane, and coffee. European states became incredibly wealthy.

• However, considering the native american population was dying out due to European diseases and many knew how to escape the plantations the Europeans needed a new labor force thus African Americans

Effects of slave trade

• demand for slave trade increased with the growth of plantations and as because other European powers joined the trade.

• brutal middle passage

• depopulation of Africa

Commercial Revolution

The revolution of money becoming the most desirable commodity in Europe instead of land.

Rise of banks

• Amsterdam had a bank which opened in 1609

• before the 16th century there was no banks in Europe. So what was happening in the Netherlands and Europe for this to occur?

• The answer is that Europe was going into a money economy; an economy in which goods, services, and wages paid for work were paid with money. prior to this you bartered.

• as the economy became more globalized due to imperialism this barter system became too difficult. Hence money came along so people could exchange money for what they wanted.

• Thus, with the rise of the money economy banks became a practical necessity

• European economies were changing so much they needed institutions (banks) to keep track of everyone´s money—> did this by double-entry bookkeeping

• effects of banks was power shifting to Amsterdam, Genoa, London

• Dutch East India company was established which also was an innovation of finance—> dominated trade in the Indian ocean and the bank of Amsterdam handled the money

Price Revolution

• the Cicero Ricco mountain in the 16th century of the Spanish empire brought the Spaniards a lot of silver which caused the price revolution; a phenomenon in which prices steadily rose for about a century and a half —> negatively effected common people

• despite occurring in Spain also affected all of Europe (inflation)

Commercial agriculture

• prior to the 16th century most European Agriculture was organized by feudalism in which subsistence farming occurred. Soil exhaustion was a constant problem but crop rotation was the solution.

• However, after the Cicero Ricco mountain provided an abundance of silver, large landowners and capitalist investors began to see the open field system as wasteful and desired to increase available land so that crop yields would increase

• ex; in England, legislation was passed to allow investors to purchase public land —> enclosure movement

• landowners benefited tremendously, power was shifting to banking elites and landowners. capitalism began to rise.

• commercial agriculture: land was now seen not as a way to subsist, but as a means to earn more money for the one who owned it.

Effects of commercial agriculture

Rise of middle class: merchants, traders, bankers became wealthy and influential thus new social class

freedom of serfs: led many peasants to be cut free from the feudal arrangement

growth of urbanization: free peasants migrated to cities to look for work —> strain on city resources, overcrowded living spaces, urban poverty

family pattern: people waited to be financial stable to have kids

Continuity and change

Change-

intellectual: shift from medieval scholastic to renaissance humanism focusing on individualism, secularism

artistic: shifted from flat, religious focused art to realism, naturalism and humanism

economic: shift from feudal economy commercial-capitalist economy

political: new monarchies who centralized power and established strong centralized states

Continuities:

social: agricultural lifestyle dominated for average European

religion: Roman Catholic Church remained a powerful, dominant intuition despite challenges in the period

hierarchy: social hierarchy based on land ownership still existed

Comparison

Italian vs Northern: Italian renaissance was more secular, focusing on art and funded by the elites. Northern renaissance was more focused on religious art and reform

economic: capitalism/mercantilism of west vs serfdom/feudal of east

colonial: Spain focused on land conquest while Portugal focused on coastal trading ports

Causation

Exploration:

• desire for direct access to spice trade

• mercantilism

• god, gold, glory

• advances in technology