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disce aut discede
A Latin term that means 'learn or leave.'
Black Death
A bacterial disease that devastated many areas of the world, leading to millions of deaths and a profound change in society.
Bubonic Plague
A synonym for the Black Death.
Constantinople
A city established by Roman Emperor Constantine, capital of the Byzantine Empire, later the Ottoman Empire.
urban
Of or pertaining to cities.
rural
Of or pertaining to the countryside.
flagellants
An extremist Catholic religious movement that believed physical punishment could atone for sins.
ghetto
Originally referred to a specific section of a European city where Jews were allowed to reside.
pogrom
Periodic violent attacks on the Jewish population, especially prominent in Eastern Europe.
anti-Semitism
The hatred of the Jewish population.
first-hand
Something directly witnessed or experienced by the person relating it.
second-hand
Something explained by someone who did not directly witness or experience it.
Florentine
Of or pertaining to the Italian city of Florence.
vernacular
Any language spoken by the general population of a region.
siege
A military tactic where an enemy is surrounded and starved into submission.
Balkan Peninsula
A vast region in southeastern Europe including nations like Greece and Serbia.
antiquity
Of or pertaining to anything ancient or a period of ancient history.
Middle Ages
The European historical era following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE.
medieval
A synonym for the Middle Ages.
transcribe
The action of copying by hand something written.
literate
The ability to read.
illiterate
Lacking the ability to read.
secular
Anything that is not religious in its character or purpose.
classical
Of or pertaining to ancient Greece and/or ancient Rome.
Italian Renaissance
A period in the 1400’s and 1500’s marked by renewed interest in culture, art, and learning.
papal / papacy
Of or pertaining to the office of the Pope of the Catholic Church.
lion’s share
An expression that means the biggest and best portion of something.
Doge
The title held by the ruling prince of the city of Venice.
textile
Of or pertaining to cloth or the production of cloth.
Medici
A powerful family that dominated the politics of Florence during the Renaissance.
humanism
A Renaissance movement emphasizing Greek and Roman values and the potential of man.
oligarchy
Any government dominated by a few wealthy people.
S’forza
A powerful family that dominated the politics of Milan.
mercenary
A soldier who fights for anyone who pays for their services.
patron
Someone who supports the arts or a specific artist.
liberal arts
Courses of study focusing on man and his accomplishments.
skepticism
The belief that certain knowledge is impossible; the practice of doubt.
theology
The study of religion.
ethics
The study of moral principles and behavior.
Dark Ages
A synonym for the Middle Ages.
philology
The study of the historical development and origin of language.
Vatican
An independent state ruled by the Pope, the center of the Catholic Church.
Donation of Constantine
A medieval document falsely claiming to give the Catholic Church control over Western Europe.
universal truths
Values common to all humanity, such as honesty and kindness.
Renaissance Man
The ideal man who can do everything and do it well.
Civic Humanism
A Renaissance movement seeking to design a more ideal form of government.
political science
The study of different forms of government.
Christian Humanism
Movement focused on returning the Church to earlier practices of faith.
Flanders
An ancient name for a major region of modern Belgium.
Vulgate Bible
The ancient Latin translation of the Bible used by the medieval Catholic Church.
Northern Renaissance
Spread of the Renaissance into Northern and Western Europe, focused on religious issues.
Low Countries
Collective term for Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
hierarchical
A societal structure dividing people into ranks from highest to lowest.
clergy
Formal leaders of any religion such as priests and bishops.
laymember
Someone who is part of a faith without a formal role in the religion.
peasants
Rural, agricultural free laborers, belonging to a lower class.
serfs
Rural agricultural laborers bound to the land.
artisans
Skilled workers producing items by hand, like tailors and shoemakers.
guild
A medieval organization of workers from a common industry controlling training and quality.
rationalize
To explain or justify an action or belief that others might find offensive.
primogeniture
The law that the firstborn male inherits all property and titles.
feminist
The movement seeking to elevate the status and opportunities for females.
querelles de femmes
The long debate about the proper role for women in European society.
perspective
An artistic technique to create three-dimensional depth on a flat surface.
contrapposto
Artistic technique showing a human figure weighted on a single limb.
Gothic
Architectural style associated with the late Middle Ages, characterized by pointed arches.
New Monarchs
Rulers in the 1500’s who established stronger control than medieval kings.
War of the Roses
A civil war in England from 1455 to 1485 for control of the throne.
Tudor
The family controlling the English throne from 1485 to 1603.
regicide
The act of killing a ruling monarch.
usurper
Someone who seizes power that does not rightfully belong to them.
dynasty
A succession of family members ruling a nation.
Moors
Muslim people who conquered the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
Iberian Peninsula
Region in southwestern Europe including Portugal and Spain.
Inquisition
Religious courts in Spain to root out suspected Jewish or Muslim converts.
centralized
Concentration of authority and control in a single person or place.
Habsburg
The family that ruled over the Holy Roman Empire.
evangelized
The act of preaching a religious belief to win converts.
lucrative
Something that is profitable or valuable.
caravel
A Portuguese sailing ship designed for handling ocean voyages.
backstaff / astrolabe / sextant
NAVIGATION tools tracking speed and location using celestial bodies.
portolani
Ancient medieval maps used by early explorers.
Cape of Good Hope
Strategic passage of water at the bottom of Africa.
Malacca
Old name for the islands of Indonesia known for their spices.
Treaty of Tordesillas
1494 agreement splitting the unknown world between Spain and Portugal.
circumnavigate
The act of sailing around the world.
conquistadors
Spanish soldiers who conquered the New World native population.
Smallpox
A viral infection with a high mortality rate, especially in historical contexts.
encomienda
Large land grants from the Spanish king to soldiers in the New World.
Middle Passage
Horrific journey of captive African slaves to the New World.
Mestizos
Mixed race people of European and Native American blood.
Mulattos
Mixed race people of European and African blood.
relativism
The belief that knowledge and morality relate to culture and society.
demographic
The study of people and population.
Columbian Exchange
The exchange of people, crops, and goods between Europe and the New World.
bullion
Precious metals in bulk form, valued by weight.
inflation
A general increase in prices and decline in purchasing power.
Price Revolution
Economic upheaval marked by inflation in Spain and Europe in the 1500’s.
barter
An economic system where goods are traded without currency.
Global Economy
Beginnings of a worldwide economy linking different regions through trade.
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