Chapter 13 (pp. 385- 400) and Chapter 15 Notes

Black Death

A devastating plague that struck Asia, North Africa, and Europe, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

bubonic plague

The most common form of the plague, characterized by swollen lymph nodes, fever, and chills.

Yersinia pestis

The bacterium responsible for the Black Death.

Great Schism

A division in the Catholic Church, resulting from the election of multiple popes, which weakened the authority of the papacy.

mercantilism

An economic theory where nations seek to maintain a favorable balance of trade, promoting the accumulation of bullion.

individualism

A belief in the importance of individual rights and self-expression, prominent during the Renaissance.

secularism

A principle advocating for separation from religious institutions and a focus on worldly rather than spiritual matters.

Renaissance humanism

An intellectual movement that emphasized the study of classical literature from Greece and Rome.

absolutism

A political system in which a single ruler holds absolute power, often justified by the divine right of kings.

Thirty Years’ War

A conflict in Europe from 1618 to 1648, primarily between Catholic and Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire.

Peace of Westphalia

The series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War, granting individual German states the right to choose their own religion.

recovery from the Black Death

The period following the Black Death marked by social, economic, and political recovery, leading to the Renaissance.

Petrarch

Considered the father of Italian Renaissance humanism and influential in fostering the humanist movement.

nobility

A social class typically associated with privilege and high status, often providing support for monarchies.

Louis XIV

The French king known as the 'Sun King' and a prominent example of absolutism in the 17th century.

Huguenots

French Calvinists who faced persecution in Catholic France during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

divine right

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, legitimizing their absolute rule.

Ivan the Terrible

The first ruler of Russia to officially bear the title of tsar, known for his ruthless policies.

St. Petersburg

The city founded by Peter the Great, intended to serve as a 'window to the West' for Russia.