Chapter 12: European Society in the Age of the Renaissance

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Renaissance concepts, people, institutions, and events from the notes.

Renaissance

A movement that revived classical art, literature, and philosophy; it is a diffusion across Europe and is described as a movement, not a fixed time period.

Humanism

A program of study emphasizing Latin and Greek literature to understand human nature; the core of Renaissance intellectual life.

studia humanitates

Latin for liberal studies; the curriculum of humanist education.

virtù

The quality of being able to shape the world according to one’s own will (not moral virtue).

Petrarch

Florentine poet who revived interest in classical texts and advocated a new education based on the Latin classics.

Dark Ages

Petrarch’s term for the post-Roman period.

Platonic Academy

Ficino’s informal Florence group that studied Plato and sought to synthesize Plato with Christianity.

Erasmus

Dutch humanist who translated the New Testament into Latin/Greek and promoted education and reform through ‘the philosophy of Christ.’

Utopia

Thomas More’s 1516 work describing an ideal society with no private property; a critique of European society.

Thomas More

English humanist author of Utopia; engaged in government service and political debate.

The Courtier

Castiglione’s 1528 guide describing the ideal Renaissance courtier (and court lady) and broad educational ideals.

Castiglione

Author of The Courtier; Renaissance diplomat who outlined the Renaissance ideal of courtly behavior.

Civic humanism

Idea that educated men should actively participate in political life to reform society.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Florentine political theorist; author of The Prince; argued rulers should ensure order by whatever means necessary.

The Prince

Machiavelli’s treatise arguing that a ruler’s primary purpose is to preserve the state, with pragmatic, often ruthless methods.

Printing press

Movable-type printing technology that enabled rapid production of books and spread of ideas.

Johannes Gutenberg

Inventor of movable-type printing in the 1440s; his Bible (1456) popularized printing.

Printing in Europe

Rapid spread of printing centers across Europe; enormous increase in available books and literacy.

Patronage

Financial support of writers and artists by cities, groups, and individuals to produce works.

Patrons

Wealthy rulers, bankers, and church leaders who funded art to glorify themselves and their houses.

Signori

One-man rulers in Italian cities; often transformed communes into courts and dynastic rule.

Oligarchy

Rule by a small, wealthy merchant-aristocratic group; could mask republican forms.

Savonarola

Dominican preacher in Florence who led moral reform, organized bonfires of the vanities, and was excommunicated and burned.

Sack of Rome (1527)

Imperial forces’ invasion that demonstrated the fragility of Italian city-states’ independence.

Medici

Powerful Florentine banking family and patrons who controlled Florence’s politics and culture.

Florentine banking

Florence’s banks financed urban growth; pivotal in financing art and politics; florins circulated widely.

Donatello

Renaissance sculptor who revived classical forms and contributed to the revival of realism.

Brunelleschi

Architect of the Florence Cathedral dome; a leading figure in early Renaissance architecture.

Michelangelo

Leading Renaissance artist; sculptor of David, painter of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and famed for monumental works.

Leonardo da Vinci

Renowned painter and polymath; epitomized the Renaissance ‘genius’ and pursued wide-ranging studies.

Raphael

Renowned painter who created frescoes for the papal apartments and advanced the study of proportion.

Christian humanism

Northern humanists who blended classical learning with Christian faith to reform society and the church.

Conversos (New Christians)

Jews who converted to Christianity in Spain; faced suspicion and discrimination.

Unification of Spain (Isabella I & Ferdinand II)

Dynastic union of Castile and Aragon; led to the conquest of Granada and centralized royal power.

How did the Renaissance differ from the Middle Ages?

The Renaissance markedly differed from the Middle Ages by shifting its value from religion and the Church to science, reason, and humanism, which emphasized Greek and Latin literature and culture. This era fostered individualism and an optimistic view of humanity, seeing life as an opportunity to be enjoyed, supported by a wealthy economy. Art also evolved, moving from symbolic forms to embrace Greco-Roman influences, human forms, realism, and perspective.

How did the Northern Renaissance differ from the Italian Renaissance?

The Northern Renaissance, unlike its Italian counterpart, emphasized Christian humanism, blending classical learning with Christian faith to reform society and the church. While Italian humanism was often more secular, focused on classical art and individual glory, the North concentrated on detailed realism, often in religious subjects and everyday life. This was greatly aided by the printing press for the widespread dissemination of ideas and biblical scholarship.

Who were the New Monarchs and how did they build up royal power?

The New Monarchs were 15th-century European rulers who consolidated royal power and created centralized states by curbing the nobility's influence, establishing professional armies, developing new sources of income, and sometimes asserting control over the Church.

Why were black people valued during the Renaissance and what roles did they play in the economic and social life of the times?

Black people were present across Renaissance Europe, particularly in port cities. They were valued for their labor, often as enslaved persons or domestic servants, but also as skilled laborers, musicians, entertainers, and soldiers. Their presence sometimes served as a status symbol for wealthy households. Economically, they contributed to various sectors, while socially, their roles ranged from enslaved chattel to integrated members of society, albeit often facing discrimination.

In what ways were women affected by the Renaissance? How were they viewed during the ‘debate about women’?

While some noblewomen received humanist education and patronage, most women continued to be confined to domestic roles with limited public influence. The 'debate about women' (querelle des femmes) involved a literary debate about women's character and worth, with some writers criticizing them and others defending their capabilities and virtue, often through appeals to classical examples or Christian ideals.