AP Euro Flashcards

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.