Chapter 2

Textbook- The Western Heritage (Kagan Textbook)

Jacob Burckhardt

19th century Swiss historian who described the Italian Renaissance as the "prototype of the modern world."

Italian Renaissance

A period in the 14th and 15th centuries characterized by a revival of ancient learning and the emergence of secular and scientific values.

City-States

Independent urban centers in Italy that thrived during the Renaissance, such as Venice, Florence, and Milan.

Merchant Oligarchies

Wealthy merchant families that gained power in Italian city-states, often leading to despotism.

Social Strife

Class divisions in cities like Florence led to conflicts between the old rich, newly rich, and lower socioeconomic classes.

Cosimo de’ Medici

A powerful banker and statesman who manipulated the Florentine constitution to maintain control over the city.

Humanism

A philosophy emphasizing the dignity of humankind, individualism, and secular values, often associated with the study of classical texts.

Studia Humanitatis

A liberal arts program of study that included grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, politics, and moral philosophy.

Petrarch

Known as the "Father of Humanism," he wrote letters to ancient authors and emphasized the importance of classical literature.

Renaissance Art

Characterized by naturalism, perspective, and human emotion, moving away from the abstract styles of the Middle Ages.

Chiaroscuro

A technique in painting that uses light and shadow to create a sense of volume and three-dimensionality.

Mannerism

An artistic style that emerged in the late Renaissance, allowing for individual expression and emotional complexity.

Slavery

Flourished during the Renaissance, with a significant market for slaves in Italy, often used in households and plantations.

Treaty of Lodi

An agreement that maintained peace among Italian city-states during the second half of the 15th century.

Niccolò Machiavelli

A political philosopher who wrote "The Prince," advocating for pragmatic and sometimes ruthless political strategies.

Printing Press

Invented by Johann Gutenberg, it revolutionized the spread of knowledge and literacy in Europe during the Renaissance.

Erasmus

A prominent northern humanist who sought to reform the Catholic Church through education and critical scholarship.

Spanish Empire

Established through exploration and conquest, leading to significant wealth and the spread of Catholicism in the New World.

Aztec and Inca Civilizations

Major Native American empires that were conquered by Spanish explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.

Economic Impact

The influx of wealth from the Americas contributed to inflation and the rise of capitalist practices in Europe.