Rise of Athenian Democracy, Monotheism, and the Renaissance & Reformation

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical figures, definitions, and concepts from Athenian democracy, monotheistic foundations, classical philosophy, the Renaissance, and the Reformation.

Development of Democracy: Greece vs. Rome Comparison

A comparative framework of democratic development showing Greek major tten codes).

Solon

Athenian leader who outlawed slavery, cancelled farmers' debts, created 4 classes of citizenship based on wealth, established the Council of 400, and allowed any citizen to charge wrongdoers.

Cleisthenes

Regarded as the founder of democracy; reorganized the Athenian assembly to balance power between rich and poor, created the Council of 500, and allowed all Athenian citizens to submit laws for debate.

Pericles

Athenian leader who increased the number of paid public officials and paid jurors, expanding participation and evolving Athens into a direct democracy.

Council of 400

A council created by Solon in Athens to prepare business for the public council.

Council of 500

A council created by Cleisthenes whose members were randomly chosen to propose laws and counsel the assembly.

Government

A system for controlling society.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a single person called a king or monarch, which is hereditary.

Tyranny

The unfair use of power by a monarch or dictator.

Aristocracy

A government ruled by a small group of noble, land-owning families, which is hereditary.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful or wealthy people.

Democracy

A government ruled by or of the common people.

Direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule and make laws directly instead of through representatives.

Representative democracy

A government in which citizens elect representatives to rule and make laws.

Senate

The law-making branch in the Roman legislative system, made up of patricians who control foreign and financial policies and advise consuls.

Republic

A form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to elect leaders to make government decisions.

Consuls

Two official executive leaders in Rome who ruled for one year.

Code of Justinian

A written Roman legal code that established rules applied equally and impartially.

Ten Commandments

A written code of laws focusing on morality and ethics given by God to the leader Moses.

Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Tanakh) containing Jewish history and laws.

Jewish Diaspora

The exile and scattering of Jewish people across the world following their rebellion against the Romans, spreading their religious beliefs.

Greco-Roman tradition

A cultural tradition that developed concepts of the rule of law, democracy, and representative government.

Judeo-Christian tradition

Monotheistic religious traditions that emphasized moral and ethical behavior, human dignity, and individual worth.

Socrates

Greek philosopher who used a question-and-answer approach and encouraged people to closely examine their held beliefs.

Plato

Student of Socrates who wrote The Republic and advocated for a meritocracy led by philosopher kings.

Aristotle

Student of Plato who believed people should use reason to govern their lives and introduced concepts of checks and balances.

Renaissance

A French word meaning "rebirth"; a cultural movement starting in Florence, Italy (1300s–1600s) that revived classical Greek and Roman ideas.

Secular

Attitudes, values, or concerns that are worldly rather than spiritual or religious.

Humanism

An intellectual movement during the Renaissance that focused on human potential, achievements, and the direct study of classical literature, art, and values.

Petrarch

Known as the father of humanism; argued that classical writings offered moral guidance and that God gave humans creative and intellectual potential.

Humanities

Subjects of study popularized during the Renaissance, including history, literature, and philosophy.

Renaissance man

An individual who excelled in many fields—educated in the classics, artistic, athletic, witty, and charming; exemplified by Leonardo da Vinci.

Renaissance woman

An upper-class woman expected to know the classics and be charming, but expected to inspire art rather than create it or seek fame.

Utopia

A Greek term meaning "no place," used in English to describe an ideal place free of flaws.

Elizabethan age

The period of the Renaissance in England starting in the mid-1500s under Queen Elizabeth I.

Johannes Gutenberg

Creator of the 15th-century printing press who produced the Gutenberg Bible and dramatically increased the speed at which ideas spread across Europe.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Florentine political philosopher who wrote Il Principe (The Prince), examining effective leadership traits and the concept of whether the ends justify the means.

Spanish Armada

A great fleet sent from Spain against England by Philip II in 1588, which was defeated by fire ships and severe winds.

John Wycliffe

An English Roman Catholic priest who criticized church practices and translated the Bible into English.

Jesuits

A group of highly trained, well-educated missionaries led by St. Ignatius of Loyola formed to defend the Catholic Church and spread its faith.

Tithe

A mandatory payment of one-tenth of one's income to a church.

Protestant

A Christian belonging to a non-Catholic church who questioned the authority of and wanted reforms in the Catholic Church.

Indulgence

A pardon sold by the Catholic Church to reduce punishment for sins.

Henry VIII

English king who broke with the pope and established the Church of England (Anglican Church) after being denied a marriage annulment.

Martin Luther

German monk who posted the 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, criticizing the sale of indulgences and initiating the Protestant Reformation.

Peace of Augsburg

An agreement granting German princes the right to determine the religion of their respective territories.

Theocracy

A government controlled directly by a religious leader.

Diet of Worms

A assembly of religious leaders who confronted Martin Luther, where he refused to recant his writings against the Catholic Church.

Council of Trent

A council of high-level Catholic clergy convened to define Catholic doctrine and direct counter-reformation efforts.

Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century aimed at reforming perceived abuses within the Roman Catholic Church.

John Calvin

Protestant reformer who taught the doctrine of predestination.

Anglican Church

The Protestant state church set up in England after 1534 with the English monarch as its head.

95 Theses

A list of arguments written by Martin Luther challenging Catholic Church practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, posted in 1517.