AP Euro Unit 1: Renaissance and Exploration

Renaissance

The time of the great revival of art, literature and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 16th century.

Republic

A state in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Classical

of or relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world and especially to its literature, art, architecture, or ideals.

Petrarch

Father of the Renaissance. He believed the 14th century was the beginning of a new golden age of intellectual achievement after the "dark ages".

Individualism

Emphasis on and interest in the unique traits of each person.

Renaissance Man

A man that is multitalented and is well educated-the example being Michelangelo.

Secularism

The belief in material things instead of religious things. This was a shift away from medieval thinking.

Vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

Humanism

A cultural movement of the Renaissance based on the study of classical works. Emphasized human beings, their achievements, interests, and capabilities.

Virtu (ver-too)

The striving for excellence and being a virtuous person-humanistic aspect of Renaissance.

Castiglione

Wrote The Courtier which was about education and manners and had a great influence. It said that an upper class, educated man should know many academic subjects and should be trained in music, dance, and art.

City-State

A political unit, or state, the size of a city. A city-state often controls the land immediately surrounding the city.

Patron

A wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Wrote The Prince which contained a secular method of ruling a country. "End justifies the means."

Botticelli

One of the leading painters of the Florentine Renaissance, developed a highly personal style. The Birth of Venus and Primavera are key works.

Brunelleschi

Italian architect, celebrated for work during Florentine Renaissance. He built the magnificent dome on the cathedral of Florence.

Donatello

A Florentine sculptor who was one of the first to use a realistic, lifelike style. His statue of David is a key work.

Leonardo Da Vinci

A painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman — the epitome of a "Renaissance man."

Michelangelo

An Italian sculptor, painter, poet, engineer, and architect. Famous works include the mural on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the sculpture of the biblical character David.

Pico Della Mirandola

Writer of "Oration on the Dignity of Man" which stated that man was made in the image of God. He believed that there is no limits to what man can accomplish.

New Monarchies

The governments of France, England and Spain at the end of the 15th century, whose rulers succeeded in centralizing royal authority, suppressing the nobility, controlling the church and insisting on the loyalty of all peoples living in their territories.

Gutenberg

Invented the movable type printing press in the 1450s. This invention made it possible for printed material to be distributed across Europe quickly and inexpensively.

Christian humanists

Combined the interest in the classics of the Italian Renaissance with an interest in the sources of early Christianity such as the New Testament. They developed a program for broad social reform based on Christian ideals.

Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who promoted the study of navigation and directed voyages of exploration down the western coast of Africa.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable three-masted ship used by the Portuguese and Spanish in the exploration of the Atlantic.

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498 he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.

Christopher Columbus

Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico .

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish explorer who conquered the Incas in what is now Peru and founded the city of Lima.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Triangular Trade

A three-way system of trade during 1600-1800s Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe, and Europe sent Guns and Rum to Africa.