Social Studies: The Renaissance Worldview

Vocabulary flashcards covering key historical terms, concepts, and definitions from Chapter 1 regarding factors that shaped the Renaissance worldview.

Renaissance

A historical period that originated in Italy in the 14th century, known for the revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning (derived from the French word renaître, meaning "to be born again").

CE

Common Era; referring to a way of numbering years accepted commonly throughout the world, numbering from the birth of Jesus Christ.

Era

A historical time period.

Byzantine Empire

The eastern part of the Roman Empire, in existence from the 4th to 15th centuries.

Middle Ages

A historical period in Europe stretching from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes along which rare goods (such as silks, glassware, paper, and spices), technology, and ideas moved between the Mediterranean world and Asia.

Astrolabe

An instrument used to measure the locations of stars and planets as an aid to navigation.

Crusade

A campaign in favour of a cause; historically, a medieval Christian military expedition to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Judaism

The religion of the Jews, based on a belief in one God, as told in the Hebrew Bible (referred to as the Old Testament by Christians), and the teaching of rabbis.

Christianity

The religion of the Christians, based on a belief in one God, as told in the Old Testament of the Bible and the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament.

Islam

The religion of the Muslims, based on a belief in one God, based on the teachings of Muhammad as revealed in the Koran (Qur’an).

Pilgrim

A person who journeys to a sacred place for religious purposes.

Fibonacci sequence

A series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two numbers before it ($1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, \dots$).

Feudal system

A political-economic-social system of landholding in place in much of Europe in the Middle Ages, characterized by very rigid class structures and roles.

Diplomacy

The skill or tact in handling negotiations, especially in government.

Alliance

A formal agreement to cooperate.

Hierarchical

Based on classes of status or authority ranked one above the other.

Serfs

Peasants who were the property of their lords and worked the land for them within the feudal system.

Pestilence

A usually fatal epidemic disease.

Mortality

Death.

Astrology

The study of planets, stars, and comets in the belief that their movements and positions affect daily life.

City-state

A city that governs itself and the countryside surrounding it.

Urbanization

The movement of population away from the countryside and into cities.

Value judgment

An opinion based on a person’s individual values and beliefs.

Court

The families, advisors, and other members of a royal or noble household.

Papacy

The pope and the government of the Roman Catholic Church.

Republic

A state in which power is held by the people or their representatives.

Despot

A leader with unlimited power; a tyrant or oppressor.

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a few people have the power.

Sovereignty

Supreme power and authority; the freedom of a country or political unit from outside control.

Popolo grasso

The wealthy merchant class in Florence ("the fat people"), organized into guilds that represented wool manufacturers, silk merchants, and bankers.

Popolo minuto

Workers and shopkeepers in Florence ("the little people"), most of whom were former peasants not allowed to join guilds.

Guild

An organization of craftsmen or merchants.

Florin

A high-grade gold coin produced in Florence that became the standard currency of Europe during the early Renaissance.

Patron of the arts

A person who provides financial or other support for artists.

Aristocracy

The nobility or those with inherited titles.

Basilica

A Roman Catholic cathedral of particular honour.

Cittadini Originarii

The "original citizens" of the Republic of Venice who could hold public office but were not permitted to vote.

Doge

The head of government in Venice, who was elected for life and headed the Senate.

Scuola

A Venetian association that met for prayer sessions, collected money for good causes, and held masses for members who were sick, dying, or dead (plural: scuole).

Armory

A place where weapons and ammunition are kept.

Fresco

A watercolour painting done on a wall or ceiling on wet plaster.

Treaty of Lodi

A 1454 agreement signed by Florence, Venice, Milan, and Naples that brought relative stability and peace to the Italian Peninsula for 40 years.

Banco San Giorgio

A powerful bank founded by wealthy families in Genoa to finance both trade and the Genovese navy.