Renaissance

Renaissance

A period of cultural revival and poetic evolution characterized by the belief that man should be the subject of study, not God.

Tudor dynasty

The ruling dynasty in England from 1485 to 1603, instrumental in shaping the cultural, political, and religious landscape of England.

Henry VII

King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for establishing a strong central monarchy.

Elizabeth I

Queen of England from 1558 to 1603, known for political stability and the beginnings of modern bureaucracy.

Lyrical spirit

The belief that poetry is the natural language of the people, characterized by being full, free, and spontaneous.

Printing press

Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455 and introduced to England by William Caxton in 1476, it revolutionized the availability of books.

Geoffrey Chaucer

Author of "The Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories and poems told by a group of pilgrims on their way to the Canterbury Cathedral.

Thomas More

Author of "Utopia," a book about an imaginary island where everything is perfect.

Nicholas Machiavelli

Author of "The Prince," a book containing theories about how a ruler should govern.

Humanism

An intellectual movement that greatly influenced Renaissance thinkers, writers, and artists, characterized by the revival of old Greek and Latin classics and exploration of questions about a good life.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement that began in England with Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England.

Annulment

The cancellation or putting an end to a marriage, used by Henry VIII to dissolve his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Elizabeth I

Queen of England from 1558 to 1603, known for restoring law and order, reestablishing the Church of England, and rejecting the pope's authority.

Spanish Armada

Warships sent by Spain to invade England in 1588, defeated by England's smaller ships, marking a significant victory for Elizabeth I and ensuring England's independence from Catholic countries.

James I

King of England from 1603 to 1625, a patron of the arts but an uninspiring ruler, marking the decline of Renaissance values.