Western Civilization Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Protestant Reformation and Renaissance, aiding in exam preparation.

Western Civilization

Societies in Europe influenced by Greek, Roman, and Christian traditions.

Castle v. cannon

the castle represents old traditional ideas, and the cannon represents new ideas that challenge and try to change those traditions.

Great Chain of Being

the idea that everything in the universe has a fixed place in a hierarchy, with God at the top, then angels, humans, animals, plants, and minerals at the bottom.

Humanism

focus on individual belief and peronal understanding

95 theses

statements written by Martin Luther in 1517 criticizing the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences, sparking the Protestant Reformation.

printing press

an invention that made books faster and cheaper, helping spread ideas like Martin Luther’s 95 Theses across Europe.

vernacular

language of the common people

literacy revolution

a period when more people learned to read and write, helped by the printing press, which made books cheaper and ideas easier to spread.

epistemology

the study of knowledge

heliocentric

model of the solar system where the Sun is at the center and the planets, including Earth, revolve around it.

underlying cause v. immediate cause

underlying cause is where there is a root reason, immediate cause is an event that directly triggers it

What were two of the factors influencing the literacy revolution in early modern Western civilization?

Luther's translation of the Bible and the printing press

What was the issue over which Ulrich Zwingli split from Martin Luther?

They argued about whether Communion was literal or symbolic.

What is the basis of John Calvin's theology regarding salvation?

God chooses who will be saved (predestination), not people themselves.

What unique interpretation regarding baptism did the Anabaptists offer?

The Anabaptists believed in adult baptism, interpreting the Bible individually.

What triggered the English Reformation?

Henry VIII's desire for a divorce led him to break from the Catholic Church and establish the Church of England.

How did England's religion change under Henry VIII?

England transitioned from Catholicism to the Church of England after Henry VIII's break from the Pope.

What religious shift occurred in England under Edward VI?

Under Edward VI, England became more Protestant, introducing English prayer books.

How did Mary Tudor attempt to change England's religious landscape?

She tried to bring back catholicism.

What was the outcome of Elizabeth I's reign concerning religion?

Elizabeth I established a steady Protestantism and promoted English religious texts.

How did the English Reformation differ from the Protestant Reformation initiated by Martin Luther?

Henry VIII's Reformation was more political. while Luther's was primarily religious.

What was a major impact of the printing press on the Protestant Reformation?

Spread Reformation ideas fast and to many people.

Define indulgences. What role did they play in the Protestant Reformation?

Indulgences were pardons sold by the Church to reduce punishment for sins. It angered people and called them to lose trust for the church.

What were the key complaints in Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses?

The Ninety-Five Theses criticized the sale of indulgences and the abuses of the Catholic Church.

What role did the printing press play in disseminating Luther's ideas?

Made Luther’s writings spread quickly and reach lots of people.

How could a person achieve salvation according to Luther?

Salvation could be achieved through faith alone, not through good works.

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What developments marked the transition from Medieval to Renaissance thinking?

The weakening of feudalism due to events like the Black Death allowed new ideas and secular perspectives to emerge.

What were six characteristics of Renaissance humanist culture?

a focus on human potential, interest in classical learning, emphasis on individualism, study of the arts, use of reason, and a curiosity about the natural world.

Who were the three Masters of the High Renaissance?

Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo were recognized as the three Masters of the High Renaissance.

What was the significance of the Peace of Augsburg?

The Peace of Augsburg allowed German princes to choose the religion for their states, reflecting regional religious autonomy.

humanism

belief that focuses on human potential, achievements, and learning, rather than only on religion.

Fuedalism

where kings gave land to nobles, nobles protected the land and people, and peasants worked the land in exchange for protection.

manorialsim

where peasants worked on a lord’s manor (estate), producing food and goods in exchange for protection and a place to live.

Roman catholic church

the main Christian Church in Western Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, led by the Pope, and it had great religious, political, and cultural influence.

social pyramid

a way to show how society is organized, with different social classes stacked from the most powerful at the top to the least powerful at the bottom.

Renaissance

period in Europe (14th–17th century) marked by a rebirth of art, learning, and culture, inspired by classical Greece and Rome.