Life and Death in the Later Middle Ages and the Renaissance

This set of 50 flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on medieval life, the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War, and the Renaissance.

Great Famine

A period from 1315-1322 caused by climate cooling and excessive farming, leading to economic collapse.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic from 1347-1350 characterized by massive death, primarily caused by bubonic plague.

Bubonic Plague

A disease causing buboes, spread through rats and fleas, responsible for 75-200 million deaths.

Flagellants

Individuals who whipped themselves in belief that the plague was divine punishment.

Antisemitic Pogroms

Violent riots against Jews, blaming them for poisoning wells during the Black Death.

Ars Moriendi

Means 'The Art of Dying,' referring to manuals about preparing for death.

Danse Macabre

Artistic representation of skeletons dancing, symbolizing the equality of all in death.

Memento Mori

Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die,' serving as a reminder of mortality.

Dies Irae

An apocalyptic hymn that warns of impending divine judgment.

Economic Breakdown

Result of massive labor shortages post-Black Death leading to rising wages and inflation.

English Peasants’ Revolt

A 1381 uprising triggered by a poll tax and a new sense of social equality.

Jacqueries

Rebellions in France where peasants attacked nobles and granaries.

Ciompi Revolt

A 1378 revolt by wool workers in Florence protesting their political exclusion.

Boccaccio’s Decameron

A collection of stories depicting the horrors of the plague and critiques of societal behavior.

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

A work that offers a snapshot of medieval society using diverse characters and vernacular English.

Christine de Pizan

An early feminist writer who defended women and advocated for moral behavior.

Hundred Years’ War

A conflict between France and England from 1337-1453 over territorial and royal claims.

Joan of Arc

A key figure in the Hundred Years’ War who claimed divine visions, rallied France, and was canonized.

Rise of Nationalism

A significant outcome of the Hundred Years’ War, fostering national identity.

Fall of Constantinople

The capture of the city in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks, sparking the Renaissance.

Humanism

A Renaissance cultural movement that emphasized human potential and classical literature.

Civic Humanism

An ideology focusing on the improvement of cities and societies through civic duty.

Petrarch

Regarded as the Father of Humanism, noted for the revival of classical Latin.

Art Innovations

Developments in Renaissance art including perspective, contrapposto, and realistic anatomy.

Gutenberg Revolution

The introduction of the printing press around 1450, leading to mass literacy.

Medici Family

A powerful banking dynasty in Florence that sponsored arts and philosophy.

Poll Tax

A tax paid by individuals, sometimes causing popular revolts like the English Peasants’ Revolt.

Mass Literacy

Increased ability to read and write among the population due to the printing press.

Classical Texts

Ancient Greek and Roman works that were rediscovered during the Renaissance.

Modern Warfare

Militaristic transformations during the Hundred Years' War showcasing the shift from knights to gunpowder.

Apocalyptic Hymn

A type of hymn warning of judgment day, exemplified by Dies Irae.

Economic Scarcity

A result of the Black Death leading to inflation and limited food supplies.

Social Equality

The principle that all individuals should enjoy the same status in society, highlighted during the revolts.

National Identity

Awareness and pride in one's nation amplified by events like the Hundred Years’ War.

Renaissance Art

Art that focused on human experience and naturalism, contrasting with earlier medieval spiritualism.

Civic Duty

The responsibilities of a citizen to contribute to their city or society.

Literary Expression

New forms of writing in the Renaissance highlighting personal and societal themes.

Crisis and Renewal

The idea that major crises in history, like wars or plagues, stimulate cultural and intellectual renewal.

Political Identity

The concept of belonging to a political entity, evolving from city-states to nation-states.

Cultural Exchange

The transmission of ideas and cultural practices across regions and eras.

Classicism

A focus on the ideals and styles of ancient Greek and Roman culture, revived during the Renaissance.

Scholasticism

A medieval school of thought that sought to reconcile faith and reason.

Human Nature

Concepts related to the intrinsic qualities and characteristics of humanity discussed in various eras.

Introspection

Self-examination, emphasized by humanists like Petrarch as a path to moral improvement.

Greek Thought

Philosophical and cultural ideas originating from ancient Greece, significantly influencing the Renaissance.