Study Guide for Final Exam Western Civilization

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and figures in Western Civilization from the Early Middle Ages through the Enlightenment.

Western Civilization

A self-conscious entity characterized by the values of Christianity, democracy, individual rights, and economic freedom.

The Greco-Roman Society

The historical and cultural foundation of Western Civilization which became Christianized.

Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis

A fundamental work of legal scholarship in the Byzantine Empire that laid the foundation for modern civil law.

The Hagia Sophia

An architectural marvel and former Greek Orthodox Christian basilica that exemplifies Byzantine architecture.

The Angles and the Saxons

Germanic tribes that invaded and settled in Britain during the Early Middle Ages.

Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons

The process of converting the Anglo-Saxon tribes to Christianity, significantly influenced by missionaries.

The Norman Conquest

The invasion and occupation of England by the Normans in 1066, leading to significant political and cultural changes.

The Magna Carta

A charter signed in 1215 that established the principle of lawful judgment and limited the power of the king in England.

The Crusades

Military expeditions from the 11th to the 13th centuries aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control.

The Black Death

A devastating plague that swept through Europe in the 14th century, leading to significant social, economic, and religious changes.

Luther's 95 Theses

A document written by Martin Luther in 1517 criticizing the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences.

The Council of Trent

A significant Catholic council (1545-1563) that addressed church reforms and clarified Catholic doctrine during the Counter-Reformation.

Charles I

King of England whose reign and subsequent conflicts with Parliament led to the English Civil War.

The Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Glorious Revolution

The bloodless revolution of 1688 that ended James II's reign and established a constitutional monarchy in England.

The Act of Toleration

A 1689 act that granted freedom of worship to nonconformists in England, marking an important step toward religious liberty.

Humanism

A Renaissance movement that emphasized the value of human beings and the study of classical texts.

Indulgences

A practice in the Catholic Church where remission of sins was granted, often for financial contributions, criticized during the Reformation.

The French Absolutism

A political system in 17th-century France where monarchs held central authority, exemplified by Louis XIV.

Renaissance Art

Art characterized by realism, perspective, and human emotion, produced during the Renaissance.