Renaissance Vocabulary

Renaissance

A period of revival/growth in Europe from the 14th to 17th century. Art, literature, and learning grew and flourished. Marks transition from medieval period to modernity

Rebirth

To grow and flourish. Renaissance is the French word for rebirth.

Reformation

Religious movement in Europe where Christianity was challenged and reformed (changed/improved) and Protestant sects were established

Federalism

Form of government where powers are shared between a federal and state/local government

Counter-Reformation

Religious movement in the Catholic Church in response to the Reformation where changes and improvements were made to fix some of the issues brought up by Protestant groups

Scientific Method

Scientific procedure of observation, hypothesis, and experimenting, developed in the 17th century that is still used today

Martin Luther

German priest who challenged a lot of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church; he was an important figure in Protestant Reformation; posted 95 Theses

John Calvin

French pastor during Protestant Reformation; main teachings included predestination (you couldn't change God's plan)

Protestant

People who protested against the Roman Catholic Church; branch of Christianity

Indulgences

A pardon (forgiveness) for a type of sin

95 Theses

List of complaints nailed to a German church by Martin Luther; these ideas sparked Protestant Reformation

Lutheran

Someone who follows the teachings of Martin Luther (Protestant)

Inquisition

Group in Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy (beliefs contrary/opposite to Catholic teachings)

Niccolo Machiavelli

Italian writer and politician; wrote The Prince which gave rulers advice on how to rule

Trial by Ordeal

Trial that involved unpleasant and dangerous experiences to determine guilt or innocence

Henry VIII (the eighth)

King of England in 1500s; he challenged the Catholic Church when they wouldn't let him divorce his wife; started the Church of England

Marco Polo

Italian merchant (trader) who traveled the Silk Road and made Europeans interested in Asia

Michelangelo

Italian artist who is most famous for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

Leonardo da Vinci

Italian artist who studied anatomy to make his art more real; most famous for painting the Mona Lisa

Johann Gutenberg

German inventor who developed the printing press; allowed the Bible to be printed in many languages and more people could own a Bible

William Shakespeare

English poet, playwright and actor; considered one of the world's greatest writers

Nicolaus Copernicus

Mathematician and astronomer who correctly determined that the earth revolved around the sun; which was opposite to Church teachings

Galileo Galilei

Italian astronomer considered father of astronomy and modern science. He supported Copernicanism (earth went around sun)

Issac Newton

English scientist most famous for his three laws of motion

Humanism

A belief system centered on the belief that human rights/desires/needs are more important than divine or supernatural (God/gods) beings

Dante Alighieri

Italian poet most famous for writing The Divine Comedy, which explores the concepts of hell, purgatory, and paradise

Petrarch

Italian humanist (someone who believed in humanism); considered founder of humanism

Christian Humanism

A mix of Christianity and humanism; human rights and dignity are the center of Jesus' message

Desiderius Erasmus

Dutch priest/reformer; criticized corrupt/dishonest clergy (church members) and focused on devotion to God and Jesus

Albrecht Durer

German painter and engraver; influential in Renaissance

Miguel de Cervantes

Spanish writer most famous for writing Don Quixote, which tells stories of knights and chivalry

Jesuits

Religious order (group of priests) in the Catholic Church; focused on learning, research, and evangelizing (bringing other people into the Church)

Realism

Art movement that attempts to represent the subject matter truthfully without supernatural aspects