Renaissance and Reformation: Key Figures, Art, and Political Changes

Baldassare Castiglione

A Civic Humanist who wrote the book 'The Courtier' (1528), believing that the educated man should have a broad background in many skills; 'The Courtier' influenced the idea of the 'Renaissance man'.

Bank of Amsterdam

Founded in 1609, it allowed mixed money from other countries, equivocated different currencies on a gold and silver value, and allowed members to draw money from other currencies, making Amsterdam the financial center of Europe until the French Revolution.

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

A member of the Habsburg family who ruled as Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, controlling the majority of Europe and the American colonies; he defended the HRE's Catholic lands against the Protestant Reformation and signed the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.

Chiaroscuro

The treatment of light and shade in a work of art, especially to give an illusion of depth; used extensively in Renaissance art, distinguishing it from medieval art.

Christian Humanism

A movement that developed in northern Europe during the Renaissance, combining classical learning with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church; embodied in the work of Erasmus.

Civic Humanism

The belief that individuals owe a service to their community and government, with political theorists like Machiavelli and Castiglione advocating for selfless service in a self-governing republic.

Columbian Exchange

An exchange of goods, ideas, and skills from the Old World to the New World and vice versa; led to widespread death of natives in the Americas and increased dominance of European empires.

Commercial Revolution

The dramatic change in the economy of Europe at the end of the Middle Ages through the 17th century, characterized by increased towns and trade, use of banks and credit, and establishment of guilds.

Concordat of Bologna

Signed in 1516 by Francis I of France and Pope Leo X, it recognized the pope's supremacy over a council and allowed the French government to nominate all French bishops and abbots.

Donatello

A Florentine sculptor who defined Renaissance sculpture as distinct from the Gothic period, known for mastering the low relief form of schiacciato, exemplified in his sculpture 'David' (1430-1440).

Elizabeth I of England

The final Tudor ruler of England from 1558-1603, known for religious reform, the creation of the Book of Common Prayer, and solidifying her power through the Act of Supremacy.

Francis I of France

King of France from 1515-1547, noted for the spread of Italian Renaissance art into France and significant artistic and architectural projects.

Henry VII of England

The first Tudor monarch of England, ruling from 1485-1509, known for establishing stability and peace after the Wars of Roses.

Henry VIII of England

The second Tudor monarch of England, ruling from 1509 to 1547, infamous for his six wives and the English Reformation, including the creation of the Church of England.

Hugo Grotius

A Dutch political scientist and theologian who argued for natural laws governing international relations, influencing the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.

Isabella & Ferdinand of Spain

Married in 1469, they united the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, ruling from 1479 until 1516, known for enforcing Catholicism and sponsoring Columbus' expeditions.

Italian Renaissance

A period of intense artistic and intellectual activity from the mid-fourteenth to mid-fifteenth century, emphasizing classical culture and new secular ideas.

Jean Bodin

A French political philosopher whose 'Six Books of the Commonwealth' advanced a theory of absolute sovereignty, advocating for monarchs to exercise unlimited power.

Act of Supremacy

Legislation that established the English monarch as the supreme head of the Church of England.

Book of Common Prayer

A liturgical text created by Elizabeth I to unify religious practices between Catholics and Anglican Protestants.

Spanish Armada

A fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, famously defeated by the English military.

Wars of Roses

A series of civil wars in England for control of the throne, culminating in the rise of Henry VII.

Star Chamber

A court established by Henry VII to ensure the king's justice and suppress the nobility's power.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement initiated by Henry VIII's desire to divorce, leading to the establishment of the Church of England.

Natural laws

Principles proposed by Hugo Grotius that govern international relations based on common interests rather than force.

Spanish Inquisition

A religious tribunal established by Isabella and Ferdinand to enforce Catholicism and control their subjects.

Greco-Roman culture

The classical culture that the Italian Renaissance sought to revive, emphasizing art, literature, and government.

Brunelleschi

An architect of the Italian Renaissance known for developing linear perspective and designing the dome of Florence Cathedral.

Medici Family

the powerful banking family of Florence, Italy, who effectively ruled and dominated the city through the 1400s; first came to power under Cosimo de Medici, who controlled the city from behind the scenes through manipulation of the constitution and influencing elections, the height of the family came under his grandson, Lorenzo de Medici, who effectively ruled Florence in a totalitarian style; the family were immense patrons of the arts, and heavily influenced the creation and spread of Italian Renaissance art

Mercantilism

an economic system that was defined by close government control of the economy that sought to maximize exports and accumulate as much previous metals as possible to enable the state to defend its economic and political interests; the theory was originally pioneered by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who served as Louis XIV's finance minister; was adopted by many European countries as colonial empires expanded

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

an Italian sculptor, painter, poet, engineer, and architect; his famous works include the mural on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the sculpture of the Biblical character David.

Naturalism

a style and theory of representation based on the accurate depiction of detail; was the basis of the Renaissance art movement

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

a Renaissance political philosopher who wrote "The Prince"; believed that people are ungrateful and untrustworthy; he urged rulers to study war, avoid unnecessary kindness, and always base policy upon the principle that the end justifies the means; one of the earliest Civic Humanists

Nobles of the Robe

French aristocrats whose rank came from holding certain judicial or administrative posts; they were not given official titles of nobility, but held a very specific function within the government, and were typically appointed by the King, bought their position, or the positions were inherited; they were very influential in the French government up until the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789

Northern Renaissance

the cultural and intellectual movement of northern Europe, which began after the Italian Renaissance; merged ideas of the Italian Renaissance with a more religious focus; art styles were more human and common-people centered, and depicted more every day life and objects; famous artists include Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Durer.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

a treaty which ended religious warfare between Protestant German states and the Catholic Holy Roman Empire and was signed by Charles V; it acknowledged Lutheranism as a religion, and those states had the same rights at Catholic states; German states were free to choose the religion of their country, but individuals were not able to choose their religion; kept some peace in the German states up until the breakout of the Thirty Years War in 1618

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569)

a Dutch artist who is most well-known as a major figure in the Northern Renaissance; his paintings mainly focused on landscapes and peasant scenes; his most famous works include 'The Hunters in the Snow', 'Children's Games' and 'The Peasant Wedding'

Price Revolution

the period during the 1500s in which prices and inflation rose steadily; primarily as a result of the high and sudden influx of gold and silver from the Americas, it led to a drastic increase in prices for the common European

Printing Press

the 15th century invention which revolutionized the ability to print information which in turn affected the speed of the spread of information itself; helped spread Renaissance ideals and encouraged the growth of vernacular literature, which would later contribute to the growth and spread of the Protestant Reformation

Raphael (1483-1520)

one of the artists of Italy's High Renaissance, his works are most well-known for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual achievement of human grandeur; his most well-known works include 'The School of Athens', 'Transfiguration' and 'The Marriage of the Virgin'

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

an agreement between Portugal and Spain which declared that newly discovered lands to the west of an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean would belong to Spain and newly discovered lands to the east of the line would belong to Portugal.

Vernacular

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.