Renaissance and Reformation Vocabular

Mercenary

a soldier who fights primarily for pay

Republic

form of government in which the leader is not a king and certain citizens have the right to vote

Humanism

an intellectual movement of the Renaissance based on the study of humanities, which included grammar/rhetoric/poetry/moral philosophy/history

Vernacular

the language of everyday speech in a particular region

Fresco

painting done on fresh, wet plastic with water-based paints

Perspective

artistic techniques used to give the effect of three-dimensional depth to two-dimensional surfaces

Christian humanism

a movement that developed in northern Europe during the Renaissance, combining classical learning and individualism with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church

Salvation

the state of being saved (that is, going to heaven) through faith alone and good works

Indulgence

a release from all or part of punishment for sin by the Catholic Church, reducing time in purgatory after death

Lutheranism

the religious doctrine that Martin Luther developed; it differed from Catholicism in the doctrine of salvation, which Luther believed could be achieved by faith alone, not by good works; Lutheranism was the first Protestant faith

Justification

process of being justified, or deemed worthy of salvation, by God

Predestination

belief that God has determined in advance who will be saved (the elect) and who will be damned (reprobate)

Ghettos

formerly a district in a city in which Jews were required to live

Patron

a person or organization that provides financial support for artists, writers, and scholars, helping to promote and sustain cultural endeavors

Simony

the selling of Church offices