All AP Euro Lit Summaries (1st Semester)

The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

This masterpiece offers a first-hand description of the devastation of the Black Death on the city of Florence. It tells the story of ten young friends trying to hide from the plague. It was written in vernacular Italian, not Latin.

Autobiography by Benvenuto Cellini

A boastful work by a leading artist that captured the Renaissance celebration of individualism. It offers the powerful assertion that "Man can do all things" that sums up a new confidence in man's potential

Oration on the Dignity of Man by Pico della Mirandola

Written by a Florentine philosopher, the Oration compared every known religious and philosophical tradition looking for universal truths embraced by all humanity. It was seen as an attack on the primacy of Christian thought.

The Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione

This is a work about etiquette and manners. _____ believed that the Renaissance was a unique age in need of new etiquette. He argued that the modern man, a "Renaissance Man," must combine traditional males virtues with education and artistic talents.

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

_______ worked for the Medici government in Florence. This masterpiece of political science described the qualities of the ideal ruler arguing that he cannot be limited by Christian morality and that the "ends justify the means" and "it is better to be feared than loved."

In Praise of Human Folly by Erasmus

A Christian Humanist work that used satire and humor to mock certain practices of medieval Catholicism, such as veneration of saint's relics, in hopes of provoking reform within the Church.

.Education of a Christian Prince by Erasmus

Some view this as a response to Machiavelli's The Prince, in which ____ argues that the very goal of any ruler should be to imitate the example of Christ to love your neighbor

Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan

Written in French by a female author, the work is considered one of the first pieces of feminist literature. __ ___ argues that women are every bit as capable as men if only given an education and an opportunity.

Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women by John Knox

Written by a powerful Scottish religious and political figure, the work attacked the notion of women ruling over nations. Knox said this went against God's law. He attacked powerful female rulers such as Mary, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I of England, and Catherine de Medici of France.

95 Theses by Martin Luther

A collection of (#) arguments against the Catholic teachings on the role of good works in salvation. Originally written in Latin in hopes of provoking a discussion among Catholic clergy about indulgences, it triggered the Reformation.

The Babylonian Captivity by Martin Luther

This work marked _____ final break from the Catholic Church. In the text he denounced the pope as an Antichrist and the Church as the whore of Babylon

Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants by Martin Luther

In the face of the violent peasant uprisings in Germany, _____ was forced to choose between support of the peasants and support of the ruling class. Using the bible, he denounced the peasant revolt and social disorder. This decision earned the support and protection of the princes.

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

This is considered the most important work of early Protestant theology. In the text, ___ explains his belief in predestination and describes a simple and efficient way to organize Protestant faith and communities.

The Book of Common Prayer by multiple authors

This beautiful collection of English language prayers and hymns is used only by the Anglican faith.

The Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius of Loyola

This is a work of Catholic religious thought and includes spiritual actions a person can undertake to strengthen their faith.

In Defense of the Seven Sacraments by Henry VIII

contained a strong argument in support of the teachings of the Catholic Faith. The author was to turn against the church.

The Republic by Jean Bodin

He was a high-ranking French governmental official in the late 1500s. He was devastated by the horrors and destruction of the French Wars of Religion. In this political work, he argued in favor of an absolute monarchy as the best protection against chaos.

The True Law of Free Monarchs by King James I

He was the king of both England and Scotland and the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. He came to the English throne at the same time that absolute monarchy was being created in France. He argued that God chooses kings to rule over nations. He used biblical examples to support absolute monarchy.

The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

He was an English political philosopher. He was hurt by the devastation of the English Civil War and believed that a strong, all-powerful monarch was the best protection against chaos. But, his most important contribution to political thought is his belief in the “social contract,” an unwritten agreement between the people and the government.

Of Civil Government by John Locke

He agreed with Hobbes about the social contract theory, but he believed the people have the right to break the contract if they are unhappy with the king. ___ argued that people possess “natural rights; including “life, liberty, and property.” He also believed that people have a “right to revolt.” His writing/.s were inspired by the Glorious Revolution (1688) and influenced the founding fathers of the United States.

On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies by Copernicus

Astronomical work that used mathematics to assert that the earth revolved around the sun, nor the sun around the earth. It was the first modern argument for the heliocentric theory. __________ had the work published after his death.

New Astronomy by Kepler

This astronomy text by a German mathematician used very complex math equations to prove that heavenly objects revolve in elliptical orbits. This made the heliocentric theory work.

The Starry Messenger by Galileo

This text is filled with the descriptions and drawings of Galileo's telescopic observations, such as the lunar surface, canals on Mars, Jovian moons, and sunspots.

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems by Galileo

This scientific work offered a side-by-side comparison of both the geocentric and heliocentric theories. From the weight of evidence, it was clear that the heliocentric theory was more supported by evidence.

Principia by Newton

This is considered to be one of the most important scientific works ever written. It explains many of _________ most important discoveries including his Third Law of Motion, theory of gravity, and universal laws.

On the Fabric of the Human Body by Vesalius

This anatomical work contained beautiful drawings of the human body, most based on dissections. It was the first work of anatomy published since antiquity. It was used as a medical school text for centuries.

On The Motion of the Heart and Blood by Harvey

This important medical text explained the circulatory system and how blood moves in the body. It mapped the vein and artery system and explained the role of the heart and lungs.

Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam by Marian

This work of entomology contains beautiful drawings and descriptions of the insects of Surinam, a Dutch colony in South America. It was written by a female entomologist.

Letters on Turkey by Montague

Written by the wife of a British diplomat stationed in Constantinople, the work is filled with her detailed observations of life in the Ottoman capital. One of its most significant passages describes a crude form of smallpox inoculation.

Discourse on Method by Descartes

Important philosophical work in which the author argues that all knowledge must begin with doubt. _________ believed that one should approach every question with no preconceived notion of the answer and with an open mind. Famous for the statement, “Cogito ergo sum.” (I think, therefore I am).

New Instrument by Francis Bacon

Philosophic work that asserts that true knowledge must be based on empirical evidence. _______ is considered the Father of the Scientific Method, which is included in the work.

Cook's Travels by Captain Cook

This biography was written by one of Britain's greatest explorers and describes many of the things he observed on his first of three lengthy voyages across the Pacific. He landed in Australia, explored the coast of North America as far as the Arctic, and discovered many Pacific Islands. He had great respect for the native cultures he encountered.

On the Different Races of Men by Kant

_____ was a very respected Enlightenment philosopher, but one who held extremely racist views of non-Europeans. He divided humanity into four racial groups (white Europeans, yellow Asians, black Africans, and red Americans) and argued Europeans were superior.

Supplement to Bougainville's Voyage by Diderot

________ compared "civilized" European society to the supposedly "uncivilized" society of Tahiti discovered bby the French explorer, Bougainville. He argues that the simple, more natural society found in so-called primitive cultures was more truly free and just than Europe.

Encyclopedia by Diderot

This epic project took over 20 years to complete and included 24 volumes. It was meant to be a compilation of all human knowledge and focused heavily on philosophy and science.

Spirit of the Laws by Montesquieu

Influential political work by a French philosophe in which he argued that all governmental power should be divided (separation of power) to prevent absolutism and tyranny. Very influential on the American founding fathers.

Philosophical Letters on the English by Voltaire

Written while living in exile in England, it is a tribute to the freedoms of speech, press, and religion _______ admired in England and argued that France lacked.

The Social Contract by Rousseau

This was a revolutionary political work that argued that the people are the source of all power (popular sovereignty) and that hereditary monarchy is illegitimate. _________ believed that all laws must reflect the "general will" (the support of the people). It advocated democracy.

The Wealth of Nations by Smith

The most influential economics text ever written, ________ argued in favor of free trade and economic capitalism. He was an influential physiocrat and opponent of mercantilism. He believed there are natural laws in economics, such as "supply and demand."

Vindication of the Rights of Women by Wollstonecraft

This was a powerful endorsement of the idea of equal rights for women. ______________ argued that both men and women possess the same power of reason and therefore each are equally capable if given the same education.

What is the Third Estate? by Abbe Sieyes

A pamphlet written by a French clergyman who had sympathies with the common people. He argued that the common people were the real France, not the nobility or even the Church. It inspired many people.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen by National Assembly

This is the first constitution of France. It was written by a group of delegates from the National Assembly. It promised basic human rights like free speech, free press, and freedom of religion.

Declaration of the Rights of Women by Olympe de Gouges

The female author was angry that the Declaration of the Rights of Men seemed to leave the women of France out. She argued that since women paid the same taxes, obeyed the same laws, and were punished the same way, they should have the same privileges.

Reflections on the Revolution in France by Burke

This British work is the foundation of conservatism. He argued that the Revolution was too extreme and that no single generation had the right to destroy the work done by all previous generations.