Semester 1 AP Euro Vocab Terms to Know:

disce aut discede

Latin term that means 'learn or leave'.

pogrom

Term for periodic violent attacks on the Jewish population, especially prominent in Eastern Europe.

Black Death

A bacterial disease that devastated many areas of the world, leading to the death of millions and profound societal change in Europe.

Bubonic Plague

A synonym for the Black Death.

Constantinople

A city established by Roman Emperor Constantine; became the capital of the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empire.

urban

Of or pertaining to cities.

rural

Of or pertaining to the countryside.

flagellants

An extremist Catholic religious movement that believed that physical punishment could atone for sins; viewed the plague as a punishment from God.

ghetto

Originally referred to a section of a European city where Jews were allowed to live, often walled off from Christian areas.

anti-semitism

The hatred of the Jewish population.

first-hand

Something directly witnessed or experienced by the person relating it.

second-hand

Something explained by someone who did not directly witness or experience it.

Florentine

Of or pertaining to the city of Florence.

Vernacular

Any language spoken by the general population of a region, as opposed to Latin, the language of the Church.

Siege

A military tactic where an enemy is surrounded and starved into submission.

Balkan Peninsula

Region in southeastern Europe including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Serbia.

antiquity

Of, or pertaining to anything ancient, or to a period of ancient history.

Middle Ages

The European historical era following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and the beginning of the Renaissance.

Medieval

A synonym for the Middle Ages.

Transcribe

The action of copying by hand something written.

Literate

The ability to read.

Illiterate

Lacking the ability to read.

Secular

Anything that is not religious in its character or purpose.

Classical

Of, or pertaining to ancient Greece and/or ancient Rome.

Italian Renaissance

A period in the 1400's and 1500's characterized by a renewed interest in culture, art, and learning.

papal/papacy

Of, or pertaining to the office of the Pope.

lion's share

An expression meaning the biggest and best portion of something.

Doge

The title held by the elected ruling prince of Venice.

textile

Of, or pertaining to cloth or its production.

Medici

A powerful family that dominated the politics of Florence during the Renaissance.

humanism

A Renaissance movement that emphasized potential and goodness of man, looking to classical values for inspiration.

oligarchy

Any government dominated by a few wealthy individuals.

S'forza

A powerful family that dominated the politics of Milan.

mercenary

A soldier who fights for anyone who pays for their services.

patron

Someone who supports the arts or a specific artist.

liberal arts

Courses of study focusing on human accomplishments.

skepticism

The philosophical belief that certain knowledge is impossible; to doubt.

theology

The study of religion.

ethics

The study of moral principles and behavior.

Dark Ages

A synonym for the Middle Ages.

philology

The study of historical development and origin of language.

Vatican

An independent state in Rome ruled by the Pope, center of the Catholic Church's authority.

Donation of Constantine

A false medieval document claimed to give the Catholic Church control over much of Western Europe.

universal truths

Values that are common to all humanity, such as honesty and kindness.

Renaissance Man

Term to describe an ideal man who excels in various fields.

Civic Humanism

Renaissance intellectual movement aiming to design an ideal government inspired by classical models.

political science

The study of different forms of government.

Christian Humanism

Renaissance movement focused on returning the Church to earlier practices.

Flanders

An ancient name for a major region of modern Belgium.

Vulgate Bible

The ancient Latin translation of the Bible used by the medieval Catholic Church.

Northern Renaissance

Term for the Renaissance's spread in Northern and Western Europe, focused on religious issues.

Low Countries

Collective term for Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

hierarchical

A societal structure dividing people into ranks from highest to lowest.

clergy

Formal leaders in a religion, such as priests and bishops.

peasants

Rural, agricultural free laborers.

serfs

Rural, agricultural laborers bound to the land.

artisans

Skilled workers who produce items by hand.

guild

A trade organization controlling the quality and pricing of goods.

rationalize

To justify an action or belief that others might find offensive.

primogeniture

The law stating that the firstborn male inherits all property.

feminist

Movement seeking to elevate the status of women.

querelles de femmes

Debate about the role of women in society.

perspective

An artistic technique for creating depth on a flat surface.

contrapposto

Artistic technique showing a human figure with weight on a single limb.

Gothic

Architectural style characterized by pointed arches and flying buttresses.

New Monarchs

Rulers in the 1500's establishing stronger national control.

War of Roses

Civil war in England from 1455 - 1485 over the throne.

Tudor

The family that controlled the English throne from 1485 - 1603.

regicide

The act of killing a ruling monarch.

usurper

Someone who seizes power not rightfully theirs.

dynasty

A succession of family members ruling a nation.

Moors

Muslim people from North Africa who conquered the Iberian Peninsula.

Iberian Peninsula

Region in southwestern Europe including Portugal and Spain.

Inquisition

Religious courts in Spain targeting suspected Jews or Muslims.

centralized

Concentration of authority in a single person or place.

Habsburg

Family ruling the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and Spain.

Laymember

A non-clerical member of a religion.

evangelized

The act of preaching to convert others to a religious belief.

lucrative

Something that is profitable.

caravel

Inventive Portuguese sailing ship for ocean voyages.

backstaff / astrolabe / sextant

Tools used by navigators for tracking speed and location.

portolani

Inaccurate ancient maps used by early explorers.

Cape of Good Hope

Strategic water passage at the bottom of Africa.

Malacca

Islands in Indonesia known for valuable spices.

Treaty of Tordesillas

1494 agreement dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal.

circumnavigate

To sail around the world.

conquistadors

Spanish soldiers who conquered native populations in the New World.

Smallpox

A viral infection that resulted in high mortality rates.

encomienda

Large land grants allowing Spanish soldiers to demand labor from Native Americans.

Middle Passage

Journey of captive African slaves across the Atlantic to the New World.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Native American descent.

Mulattos

People of mixed European and African descent.

relativism

Belief that knowledge and morality exist in relation to culture and society.

demographic

The study of human populations.

Columbian Exchange

The transatlantic exchange of goods, crops, and populations between Europe and the New World.

bullion

Precious metals valued by weight.

inflation

An overall increase in prices reducing purchasing power.

Price Revolution

Economic upheaval in 1500s and 1600s marked by inflation.

barter

System of trading goods without currency.

Global Economy

Interconnected worldwide economy for trade of goods.