Chapter 6: Renaissance and Reformation

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key figures, art, concepts, and religious developments of the Renaissance and Reformation.

Renaissance

Meaning "Rebirth" or "Revival", it refers to a revival of learning that began in 14th century Italy, during which literature became widely available in the vernacular. Driven further by the fall of Constantinople in 1453, its positive results included renewed interest in Greek and Hebrew, accessible education, and a return to Scripture, alongside rising dissatisfaction with the Roman Church.

Johannes Gutenberg

The inventor of the moveable type printing press.

Renaissance Art

Art that advanced over previous periods through three distinct elements: Shading, Anatomy, and Perspective.

Renaissance Architecture

An architectural style characterized by a revival of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Leonardo da Vinci

The Renaissance artist who painted both the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Michelangelo

The Renaissance artist who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Ghiberti

The artist who sculpted the doors of the baptistery of Florence.

Brunelleschi

The architect who designed the dome of the Cathedral of Florence.

Humanities

The study of human interests, including Literature, Philosophy, Art, and History, originating from a Renaissance educational focus to make students well-rounded.

Petrarch

The Renaissance figure recognized as the "Father of Humanism".

Castiglione

Author who wrote a Renaissance-era book on manners and etiquette.

Machiavelli

The author of The Prince.

Erasmus

A scholar from Rotterdam who authored In Praise of Folly, published the first Greek translation of the New Testament, and was very critical of Pope Julius II in his writings.

Sir Thomas More

An English official who served under King Henry VIII and wrote Utopia.

Transubstantiation

The Roman Church doctrine teaching that the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper literally became the body and blood of Christ.

Indulgences

A paper document that supposedly granted pardon from the punishment of sins.

John Wycliffe

An early forerunner of the Reformation in England whose "Wycliffe Bible" was the first Bible translated into English.

John Huss

A forerunner of the Reformation who was burned at the stake.

Martin Luther

Reformer who wrote and posted his "Ninety Five theses" against the Roman church (regarded as the official start of the Reformation), was led to salvation by Romans 1:17 ("The just shall live by faith"), and became the first person to translate the Bible into German.

Ulrich Zwingli

Leader of the reformation in Switzerland.

Anabaptist

A name given to the Swiss brethren meaning "those who baptize again".

John Calvin

A reformer who wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion.

Jesuits

A Catholic monastic order founded to stop the spread of the Reformation and reverse the gains of Protestants.

Index of Prohibited Books

A list of books related to the Reformation that Catholics were forbidden to read.

Council of Trent

A series of meetings of high Roman Church officials that resulted in a statement of Roman Catholic beliefs and practices.

Huguenots

A term for French Protestants.

Edict of Nantes

A decree issued by Henry of Navarre that promised limited religious toleration in France.

Thirty Years War

The last great religious war in Europe, which occurred between 1618 and 1648.

Counter Reformation

The term referring to the Roman Church's reaction to the Protestant Reformation.

Excommunication

The dismissal of an individual from the Roman Church.

Inquisition

A Church court set up to find heretics; if the accused did not confess their wrongdoings, they were considered guilty, tortured, and burned at the stake.