AP World 18.1

Renaissance

A cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread to the rest of Europe, characterized by a revival of interest in classical art, literature, and learning.

Humanism

 Focus on humankind as center of intellectual and artistic endeavor; method of study that emphasized the superiority of classical forms over medieval styles, in particular the study of ancient languages. 

Niccolo Machiavelli

 Author of The Prince (16th century); emphasized realistic discussions of how to seize and maintain power; one of most influential authors of Italian Renaissance. 

Calvinism

A branch of Protestantism founded by Jean Calvin that emphasized predestination and the moral governance of believers.

95 Theses

A document written by Martin Luther in 1517 criticizing the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the selling of indulgences.

Edict of Nantes

Grant of tolerance to Protestants in France in 1598; granted only after lengthy civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions. 

Catholic Reformation

Restatement of traditional Catholic beliefs in response to Protestant Reformation (16th century); established councils that revived Catholic doctrine and refuted Protestant beliefs. 

Treaty of Westphalia

Ended Thirty Years War in 1648; granted right to individual rulers within the Holy Roman empire to choose their own religion either Protestant or Catholic

Northern Renaissance

Cultural and intellectual movement of northern Europe; began later than Italian Renaissance (c. 1450); centered in France, Low Countries, England, and Germany; featured greater emphasis on religion than Italian Renaissance. 

Francis I

King of France in the 16th century; regarded as Renaissance monarch; patron of arts; imposed new controls on Catholic church; ally of Ottoman sultan against Holy Roman emperor.

Johannes Gutenberg

Introduced movable type to western Europe in 15th century; credited with greatly expanded availability of printed books and pamphlets; this new technology allowed spread of ideas.

European Style Family

Originated in 15th century among peasants and artisans of western Europe, featuring late marriage age, emphasis on the nuclear family, and a large minority who never married

Martin Luther

German monk; initiated Protestant Reformation in 1517 by nailing 95 theses to door of Wittenberg church; emphasized primacy of faith over works stressed in Catholic church; accepted state control of church. 

Protestantism

General wave of religious dissent against Catholic church; generally held to have begun with Martin Luther's attack on Catholic beliefs in 1517; included many varieties of religious belief. 

Anglican Church

Form of Protestantism set up in England after 1534; established by Henry VIII with himself as head, at least in part to obtain a divorce from his first wife; became increasingly Protestant following Henry's death.

Jean Calvin

French Protestant (16th century) who stressed doctrine of predestination; established center of his group at Swiss canton of Geneva; encouraged ideas of wider access to government, wider public education; Calvinism spread from Switzerland to northern Europe and North America. 

Jesuits

A new religious order founded during the Catholic Reformation; active in politics, education, and missionary work; sponsored missions to South America, North American, and Asia.

Thirty Years War

War within the Holy Roman Empire between German Protestants and their allies (Sweden, Denmark, France) and the emperor and his ally, Spain; ended in 1648 after great destruction with Treaty of Westphalia. 

English Civil War

Conflict from 1640 to 1660; featured religious disputes mixed with constitutional issues concerning the powers of the monarchy; ended with restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following execution of previous king.