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disce aut discede
A Latin term that means 'learn or leave.'
Black Death
A bacterial disease that devastated many areas of the world, arriving in Europe in 1348 and leading to millions of deaths.
Bubonic Plague
A synonym for the Black Death.
Constantinople
City established by Roman Emperor Constantine in the 300s CE, capital of the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire.
urban
Of, or pertaining to cities.
rural
Of, or pertaining to the countryside.
flagellants
An extremist Catholic group that believed physical punishment could atone for sins and that the plague was divine punishment.
ghetto
Originally referred to a specific area in a European city where Jews were allowed to reside, often walled off from Christians.
pogrom
Periodic violent attacks on the Jewish population, especially prominent in Eastern Europe.
anti-Semitism
The hatred of the Jewish population.
first-hand
Something directly witnessed or experienced.
second-hand
Something explained by someone who did not directly witness or experience it.
Florentine
Of, or pertaining to the Italian city of Florence.
vernacular
Any language spoken by the general population, as opposed to Latin.
siege
A military tactic where an enemy is surrounded and starved into submission.
Balkan Peninsula
Southeastern Europe region including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Serbia.
antiquity
Pertaining to anything ancient or a period of ancient history.
Middle Ages
The European historical era after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and before the Renaissance.
medieval
A synonym for the Middle Ages.
transcribe
To copy by hand something written.
literate
The ability to read.
illiterate
Lacking the ability to read.
secular
Not religious in character or purpose.
classical
Pertaining to ancient Greece and/or Rome.
Italian Renaissance
Period in the 1400s and 1500s marked by renewed interest in culture, art, and learning.
papal/papacy
Of, or pertaining to the office of the Pope.
lion’s share
An expression meaning the biggest and best portion of something.
Doge
The title held by the elected ruler of Venice.
textile
Pertaining to cloth or cloth production.
Medici
A powerful family that dominated the politics of Florence during the Renaissance.
humanism
Renaissance intellectual movement that emphasized Greek and Roman values and the goodness of man.
oligarchy
Government dominated by a few wealthy individuals.
S’forza
A powerful family that dominated the politics of Milan.
mercenary
A soldier who fights for anyone who pays for their services.
patron
Someone who supports the arts or an artist.
liberal arts
Courses focusing on man and his accomplishments.
skepticism
Philosophical belief that certain knowledge is impossible; to doubt.
theology
The study of religion.
ethics
The study of moral principles and behavior.
Dark Ages
A synonym for the Middle Ages.
philology
The study of historical development and origin of language.
Vatican
An independent state in Rome ruled by the Pope, the center of the Catholic Church’s authority.
Donation of Constantine
A false medieval document claiming to give the Catholic Church control over much of Western Europe.
universal truths
Values common to all humanity, such as honesty and kindness.
Renaissance Man
Ideal man who can do everything and do it well, as coined by Castiglione.
Civic Humanism
Intellectual movement aimed at designing a more ideal government based on classical models.
political science
The study of different forms of government.
Christian Humanism
Movement focusing on returning the Church to more authentic practices.
Flanders
Ancient name for a major region of modern Belgium.
Vulgate Bible
Ancient Latin translation of the Bible used by the medieval Catholic Church.
Northern Renaissance
Spread of the Renaissance into Northern and Western Europe, focusing more on religious issues.
Low Countries
Collective term for Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
hierarchical
A societal structure that divides people into ranks from highest to lowest.
clergy
Formal leaders of a religion, such as priests or bishops.
laymember
A person who is part of a faith but does not hold an official position.
serfs
Agricultural laborers bound to the land.
artisans
Skilled workers who produce items by hand.
guild
Medieval trade organization controlling industry training and goods quality.
rationalize
To explain or justify an action that may be considered offensive.
primogeniture
Law stating the firstborn male inherits all property and titles.
feminist
Movement aimed at elevating the status and opportunities for females.
querelles de femmes
Debate about the proper role for women in European society.
perspective
Artistic technique to create depth on a flat surface.
contrapposto
Artistic technique showing human figure weight distribution on a single limb.
Gothic
Architectural style characterized by pointed arches and flying buttresses.
New Monarchs
Rulers in the 1500s who established stronger control than medieval kings.
War of the Roses
Civil war in England from 1455 to 1485 for control of the throne.
Tudor
Family that controlled the English throne from 1485 to 1603.
regicide
The act of killing a ruling monarch.
usurper
Someone who seizes power unlawfully.
dynasty
Succession of rulers from the same family.
Moors
Muslim people from North Africa who ruled the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.
Iberian Peninsula
Geographic region in southwestern Europe that includes Portugal and Spain.
Inquisition
Religious courts set up by Catholic authorities in Spain to root out heresy.
centralized
Concentration of authority and control in a single person or location.
Habsburg
Family that ruled the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and Spain for centuries.
evangelized
The act of preaching a religious belief in hopes of winning converts.
lucrative
Something that is profitable or valuable.
caravel
Revolutionary Portuguese designed sailing ship capable of handling the dangers of ocean voyages.
backstaff / astrolabe / sextant
Tools used by navigators to track speed and location with celestial bodies.
portolani
Ancient, medieval maps used by early explorers in the 1300s and 1400s.
Cape of Good Hope
Strategic passage of water at the bottom of Africa, known for stormy seas.
Malacca
Old name for the islands of Indonesia, known for spices and strategic location.
Treaty of Tordesillas
1494 agreement dividing the unknown world between Spain and Portugal.
circumnavigate
The act of sailing around the world.
conquistadors
Spanish soldiers who conquered the New World native populations in the 1500s.
Smallpox
A viral infection that caused high fever and painful blisters; highly deadly.
encomienda
Large land grants from the Spanish king to soldiers in the New World, allowing labor demands from Natives.
Middle Passage
The horrific journey of captive African slaves across the Atlantic to the New World.
Mestizos
People of mixed European and Native American ancestry.
Mulattos
People of mixed European and African ancestry.
relativism
The belief that knowledge, truth, and morality are relative to culture and historical context.
demographic
The study of people and population.
Columbian Exchange
The give-and-take relationship between Europe and the New World involving crops, goods, and people.
bullion
Precious metals like gold and silver in bulk form, valued by weight.
inflation
A general increase in prices causing a decline in the purchasing power of money.
Price Revolution
Economic upheaval in Spain and Europe marked by high inflation in the 1500s and 1600s.
barter
An economic system where goods are traded for other goods without currency.
Global Economy
The beginnings of an intertwined worldwide economy through the exchange of goods.
Triangle Trade
The economic relationship between Europe, Africa, and the New World.
