Period 2: Terms List B

Renaissance

A period from the 1300s to the 1600s in which Europeans placed a strong emphasis on art, classical history, creativity, education, and innovation. This era challenged medieval ideas and contributed to the beginning of the Early Modern Period.

Humanism

The belief that humans should concentrate on their powers of reason to understand the world, rather than solely relying on religion; this philosophy is based on the ideals of Classical Greece.

Johannes Gutenberg

He introduced movable type to western Europe during the 15th century, which significantly expanded the availability of printed materials.

Martin Luther

A German Catholic monk who started the Protestant Reformation by advocating for salvation through faith instead of Catholic sacraments.

Indulgence

A practice of the Catholic Church that involved forgiving sins or lessening punishment, which resulted in a reduction of time spent in purgatory.

Predestination

The belief that God determines whether an individual will be saved before birth, indicating that good deeds cannot alter this divine decision.

Anglicanism

A form of Protestant religion that emerged in England, which retained traditional Catholic practices while also developing new interpretations.

Puritan

A Protestant Christian reformist aiming to cleanse the Church of England by eliminating Catholic elements.

Catholic Counter Reformation

A religious movement initiated to reform the Catholic Church in response to the changes brought about by the Protestant Reformation.

Spanish Inquisition

An effort to eliminate challenges to the Catholic Church's authority in Spain by examining and investigating divergent religious beliefs.

Jesuit

A group of Catholic priests dedicated to education, missionary work, and defending the Catholic Church's teachings.

95 Theses

A document written by Martin Luther that challenged various practices of the Catholic Church and is recognized as the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation.

sacrament

A religious ceremony symbolizing vital life events; the Catholic Church acknowledges seven sacraments while most Protestant denominations recognize only two.

Edict of Nantes

A decree issued in 1598 that provided increased religious liberties to Protestants residing in predominantly Catholic France.

intendant

An official within the French administrative system who acts on behalf of the king and oversees other government officials.

East India Companies

Trading entities that had government-endorsed monopolies on trade routes to India and Asia.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of crops, livestock, and ideas amid the New World and the Old World, which significantly impacted various populations.

Mercantilism

An economic structure in which colonies exist primarily to provide raw materials for the Mother Country.

Indentured servitude

A labor system in which a farmer finances an individual's passage to the Americas in exchange for a specific period of labor.

Chattel slavery

A form of slavery where status is inherited from one's parents, resulting in limited chances for freedom.

Casta system

A hierarchical social structure in New Spain that ranked individuals based on their ancestry and racial background.

Encomienda system

A method that granted land and indigenous laborers to Spanish conquerors, with emphasis on reaping economic gains.

hacienda system

A plantation model in New Spain reliant on coerced labor stemming from debt.

African Diaspora

The forced displacement of Africans as laborers, primarily impacting males, to various global locations.

Bartolomé de las Casas

A Dominican friar who advocated for the rights of Native Americans and opposed their forced labor.

Moctezuma II

The final independent ruler of the Aztec Empire, who was killed during the conquest by Cortés.

Galleons

Large vessels utilized for transporting silver from New World colonies back to Spain.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement made in 1494 that divided territorial claims between Spain and Portugal.

Triangular Trade

A trade network involving the shipment of raw goods from colonies to Europe in exchange for enslaved individuals.

Joint stock company

A commercial organization owned by multiple stakeholders, sharing both the risks and the profits.

Middle Passage

The route used for transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas, known for its inhumane conditions.

Trading post empire

An empire characterized by the control of land and port cities to oversee trade in specific regions.

Engenho

A Portuguese sugar plantation notable for its high production levels amidst perilous working conditions.

Syncretism

The process of merging different cultural elements into new traditions, regarding both language and religion.