The Late European Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Vocabulary flashcards based on significant terms and definitions from the lecture notes on the Late European Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Renaissance

A cultural movement known as the 'rebirth' that marked a change in economic and social conditions, beginning in Italy.

Secularism

A focus on worldly affairs rather than eternal, seeing life as an opportunity for glory and pleasure.

Individualism

A Renaissance attitude where wealthy individuals sought to separate themselves from the masses, fostering pride in human potential.

Humanism

An intellectual movement during the Northern Renaissance that emphasized the importance of human values and the need for societal reform.

Machiavelli

A political theorist known for his work 'The Prince', advocating for a realistic approach to power.

Oligarchy

A form of government where power rests with a small number of people, often wealthy aristocrats.

City-States

Independent, self-governing cities that were typically centers of trade and cultural development in Italy.

Patrons

Wealthy individuals or institutions that support artists and their work during the Renaissance.

Northern Renaissance

A branch of the Renaissance characterized by a more reformist attitude and focus on society rather than individualism.

Utopia

A work by Thomas More that portrays a perfect society and critiques the flaws of contemporary social conditions.

Third Rome

The concept that Moscow, after the fall of Constantinople, claimed its status as the center of Christian authority.

Dowries

Property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage, often required among the wealthy during the Renaissance.