Renaissance and Reformation Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the Renaissance and Reformation lecture notes.

Humanism

An intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements.

Secularism

Describes the Renaissance society; worldly rather than spiritual.

Vernacular

The native language of a person or group of people, referred to books written in local languages instead of Latin.

Patrons

People or families who financially supported the arts.

Renaissance Men's Roles

Expected to create art and master every area of study.

Renaissance Women's Roles

Expected to know the classics and be charming, educated but with little to no political influence or expectation of fame.

Spread of Renaissance Ideas

Facilitated by the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg, which allowed books and information to be copied quickly and cheaply.

Medici Family

Gained power by building a highly successful international banking and commerce empire, using their immense wealth and influence to control the Florence government.

Linear Perspective

An art technique used by artists to show three dimensions on a flat surface.

Chiaroscuro

The use of dark and light colors in art to create the illusion of depth.

Realism (Renaissance Art)

Attention to detail in art, striving to make paintings look as real as possible.

Jan Hus and John Wyckliffe

Early reformers who denied the Pope had a right to worldly power and believed the Bible had more authority than church leaders, priming Europe for later reform.

Martin Luther

A monk and teacher who taught scripture and wrote the 95 Theses, criticizing the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences.

Luther's Frustrations with the Catholic Church

Disagreed with the Church selling indulgences and believed its teachings placed too much emphasis on works and traditions rather than salvation by faith alone.

German Peasants’ Revolt

A rebellion where peasants applied Luther's ideas to demand an end to serfdom; involved raiding monasteries and burning, but was crushed by the Holy Roman Army.

Peace of Augsburg

A treaty in the Holy Roman Empire that granted rulers the right to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism as the official religion of their territory.

Edict of Worms

A decree issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in May 1521, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw and a heretic for his refusal to recant his teachings.

English Reformation (Causes)

King Henry VIII’s desire for a male heir and an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which the Catholic Church refused.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

An English parliamentary act that declared King Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church of England, effectively ending the Pope's authority in England.

Reformation (Religious/Social Effects)

Protestant churches flourished, the Roman Catholic Church became more unified, and both gave more emphasis to education, leading to the founding of schools and universities.

Reformation (Political Effects)

Individual monarchs and states gained power as the Church’s authority declined, leading to the development of nation-states and laying groundwork for the Enlightenment.

Renaissance Art (Techniques/Values)

Resembled ancient Greek and Roman techniques, portrayed individuals and nature naturally, often secular, and praised individual achievement.

How a Mysterious Disease Laid Low Europe’s Masses

A document or topic focusing on the impact of the plague (Black Death) in Europe.

The Prince

A book written by Niccolò Machiavelli about how to be an effective ruler, discussing whether it is better to be loved or feared but never hated.

95 Theses (Document)

A document written by Martin Luther criticizing the Catholic Church's practices, especially selling indulgences, which was widely copied and helped spread his ideas.