AP Euro - Renaissance ID Terms

Renaissance

a period of time where people began rediscovering classical texts and art from ancient Greece and Rome that changed and arose new values socially, politically, and religiously in Europe; considered the beginning of modern European history

rebirth of classical (Greco-Roman) ideas, belief in potential of man, individualism; imperial approach to the world in which people tested what they thought instead of being told what was true or false

Medici

powerful banking family who ruled Florence in the 1400s; patrons of the arts

one of the primary forces that helped restore the city of Florence during the fifteenth century

Dowry

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

began out of a desire to get the bride's family to contribute a share of the costs involved in setting up a new household

Papal states

a collection of territories that spanned much of Central Italy, with their capital in Rome, and were governed by the Pope and the Catholic Church

territories in central Italy governed directly by the Pope from 756 until 1870

Ambassador

an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country

a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity

Niccolo Machiavelli

Renaissance political philosopher who wrote The Prince; believed that people are ungrateful and untrustworthy; urged rulers to study war, avoid unnecessary kindness, and always base policy upon the principle that the end justifies the means

believed that politicians should manipulate people and use any means to gain power; did not advocate amoral behavior but thought that a politician’s actions should not be governed by moral consideration; a prince had to combine the cunning of a fox and power of a lion to achieve his goals

The Prince

a handbook for politicians about how governments most effectively work, not necessarily how the should morally work

described how politicians should gain and maintain power; believed that the government should be feared

Individualism

stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and full development of one's talents and capabilities; quest for glory

social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control

emphasis on and interest in the unique traits of each person

Secularism

belief system that rejects religion, or the belief that religion should not be part of the affairs of the state or part of public education

Humanism

scholarly interest in the study of classical texts, values and styles of Greece and Rome; contributed to the promotion of a liberal arts education based on the study of the classics, rhetoric, and history

philosophical stance that emphasizes human values, potential, and agency over religious or supernatural beliefs; broke from the medieval tradition of having pious religious motivation for creating art or works of literature

focus on optimism, potential of man, individualism, admiration of classical literature, liberal arts, virtu

Petrarch

fourteenth-century Italian poet who developed an interest in classical text from ancient Rome; journeyed through Italy in search of lost classical texts, and was able to recover many of the writings of the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero

father of humanism and the Renaissance; considered the first modern writer

Civic humanism

modeled on Cicero, the belief that it was an intellectual's civic duty to be involved in politics and help the community

intellectual movement of Italian Renaissance that saw Cicero as the ideal humanist

Neoplatonism

combination of Christianity and Platonism into a single system based on the Neoplatonic hierarchy of substances and a theory of spiritual love

combination of humanism and Platonism (thought, world as the universe)

Hermeticism

stressed the occult sciences with an emphasis on astrology, alchemy, or magic, and theological and philosophical beliefs and speculations

human beings had been created as divine beings endowed with divine creative power, and through a purification of the soul, had knowledge of God and truth

Liberal arts

academic disciplines that aim to provide a well-rounded education encompassing subjects like humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and fine arts

literature, philosophy, architecture, music, painting and sculpture

Francesco Guicciardini

wrote The History of Italy during the Italian Renaissance; his most famous work was intended as a contemporary history of Italy during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries and was intended for as wide an audience as possible

Johannes Gutenburg

inventor of the printing press, which allowed books to be printed quickly and economically; used his invention to print copies of the Bible

introduced printing to Europe and his invention of mechanical movable type printing, started a veritable printing revolution

Masaccio

Early Renaissance artist who is considered to have made the first masterpieces of Early Renaissance art (the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel)

renaissance artist who led the way in establishing a new style of employing deep space modeling and anatomical correctness in painting

Donatello

early Renaissance Italian artist and sculptor from Florence known for his work in bas-relief, a form of shallow relief sculpture

Renaissance sculptor who was revered for his mastery in portraying realism in sculpting

first Renaissance artist to utilize a nude figure in sculpture

Donatello’s David

represented simplicity and strength that reflected dignity of humanity

showcases a return to ancient Greek and Roman appreciation for the human body

the first life­size, freestanding nude sculptor since the classical period

Filippo Brunelleschi

Italian architect and engineer who is credited with developing linear perspective during the Italian Renaissance

created II Duomo, the first Italian freestanding dome since antiquity; introduced perspective

High Renaissance

a period in European art and culture that occurred from around 1490 to 1530; characterized by remarkable artistic achievements, particularly in painting, sculpture, and architecture

a period of Italian art from about 1490 to 1527; characterized by great masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael who created works marked by complex compositions and a high level of detail

Leonardo da Vinci

Italian artist, scientist, and polymath during the Renaissance period; known for his remarkable paintings such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as his scientific observations and inventions

Italian artist, scientist, and polymath who epitomized the ideals of the High Renaissance

one of the most famous Italian Renaissance artists; represents a transitional shift to High Renaissance principles

Last Supper

famous painting created by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance period; depicts the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his disciples sharing their final meal together before his crucifixion

famous for detailing the relationship that each of them had with their Lord; has many hidden symbols and meanings for the Holy Trinity and foreshadows what the future held for the group

Raphael

commissioned by Pope Julius II to create the large-scale fresco The School of Athens, as well as other decorative work at the Vatican; took over as architect of St. Peter's after the death of Donato Bramante, contributed ten tapestries to the Sistine Chapel, and painted some of the most prized and reproduced holy pictures of the era, including The Sistine Madonna and Transfiguration

Florentine who got the commission for frescoes in the papal apartments and also painted hundreds of portraits and devotional images in his short life; emphasized the importance of imitating nature and developing an orderly sequence of design and proportion

School of Athens

represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists from classical antiquity gathered together sharing their ideas and learning from each other

Michelangelo

accomplished painter, sculptor, and architect during the High Renaissance; commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which he finished in 1512

Michelangelo’s David

refers to a renowned marble sculpture created by Italian artist Michelangelo during the Renaissance period; depicts the biblical figure of David, known for his victory against Goliath, and is considered one of the greatest masterpieces in art history

utilizes contrapposto

Northern Renaissance

period of Renaissance that occurred in Europe north of the Alps; characterized by a greater emphasis on religion and less focus on the classical antiquity

more concerned with theology and personal morality; began later than Italian Renaissance c. 1450; centered in France, Low Countries, England, and Germany; featured greater emphasis on religion than Italian Renaissance

Jan van Eyck

prominent Flemish painter during the Northern Renaissance known for his meticulous attention to detail and realistic portrayal of subjects; father of the Northern Renaissance

used the new medium to achieve a peak of realism; trained as a miniaturist and illuminator of manuscripts, he painted convincingly the most microscopic details in brilliant, glowing color

one the first masters of the new art of portraits painting, he included extreme details like the stubble on his subject’s chin; “The Arnolfini Wedding” captured surface appearance and textures precisely

Albrecht Durer

German painter, printmaker, and theorist from the Northern Renaissance period; known for his detailed and technically skilled artworks that combined classical influences with innovative techniques

important pioneer of watercolor painting, engraving and woodcut; introduced many things to the world of northern European art

The Spanish Inquisition

way for the Spanish monarchy to root out any heretics, or non-Christians living under their rule; lasted from 1478 until 1834 and targeted Jews, Muslims, Protestants, and anyone who opposed the Spanish monarchy; notorious for its brutal torture of suspected heretics

Council of Constance

council met to end the schism, reform the church, and wipe out heresy; condemned Jan Hus and deposed Roman pope and successor of pope chosen at Pisa and isolated Avignon antipope; elected Martin V as new pope

Great Schism

break of communion between what are now the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, which has lasted since the 11th century

period of time from 1378 to 1418 when there was 3 men claiming to be the true Pope of the Catholic Church

destabilized the Church and led to many regular citizens not trusting the church; made it easier for people to join the Reformation when it started, which led to the split of the Catholic Church

Jan Hus

Czech theologian and philosopher who inspired the Hussite movement, Martin Luther, and the Protestant Reformation; excommunicated and burned at stake for his beliefs

Czech theologian and religious reformer in the 15th century; criticized the corruption within the Catholic Church and advocated for moral reform and religious simplification

Nepotism

act of granting an advantage, privilege, or position to relatives or friends in an occupation or field

Contrapposto

in the visual arts, a sculptural scheme, originated by the ancient Greeks, in which the standing human figure is poised such that the weight rests on one leg (called the engaged leg), freeing the other leg, which is bent at the knee

creates a figure who seems to exist in our world by breaking the symmetry of the Archaic Greek figures, of Egyptian pharaohs; creates a sense of a figure who exists in our own world, a figure who is human like us

Virtu

quality of being able to shape the world according to one's own will

concept theorized by Machiavelli, centered on the martial spirit and ability of a population or leader, but also encompassing a broader collection of traits necessary for maintenance of the state and "the achievement of great things”

ability for leader to make decisive choices for his people (best not moral)