History and Science Vocabulary Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes covering key historical periods, figures, and scientific concepts including the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.

Autocracy

another term for absolutism

Divine Right

Rulers claim the right to rule comes from God

Centralize

Term that means to increase or strengthen power.

Nation State

a specific area of land with fixed [established] boundaries, united under the rule of one government.

"the Classics"

term used to describe ancient Greco-Roman texts

The Inquisition

a powerful office set up within the Catholic Church to root out and punish heresy throughout Europe and the Americas

Heretic/ heresy

a person or the act of teaching ideas that are not supported by the church

Excommunication

to be banned by the church; if this happens to you, you cannot attend church, receive the sacraments, or receive a proper catholic burial. In addition most of the catholic community will shun you.

Ptolemy

ancient scientist who supported the geocentric model

Printing Press

Innovation that revolutionized literature and its production; aided in the spread of ideas, increased education and encouraged people to write.

Gutenberg

innovator of the printing press

Renaissance

Time period following the Middle Ages known as a "rebirth" of Greco Roman greatness in Europe. This led to a golden age in art, science, and philosophy that was spurred by a humanism, individualism, and a questioning spirit.

Geocentric

term used to describe the earth centered model of the solar system

Scientific Method

Process based on experimentation and observation with the intention of discovering the truth

Heliocentric

term used to describe the sun centered model of the solar system

Galileo

Individual who supported and went public with the proof of the heliocentric model and was arrested and placed under house arrest. He also invented the telescope and observed and documented information about the sun, planets and their moons.

Kepler

astronomer, scientist and mathematician that concluded that the planets rotated around the sun in oval or elliptical orbits

Ellipse

another term for oval

Censor

to block or ban information

Recant

to take back something that was said or written

Copernicus

Person who initially (first) proved, with math, the heliocentric model of the solar system. He was hesitant to publish his findings due to the conflict his findings presented with the church

The Enlightenment

Philosophical time period also known as "The Age of Reason" where philosophers looked to improve government, society and economics.

Reason

a logical or organized way of thinking