AP Euro Unit 1 Review

The Renaissances

The term "Renaissance" refers to a period of cultural and intellectual revival in Europe, primarily starting in Italy in the 14th century and spreading north. The Italian Renaissance was characterized by a focus on art, classical literature, and urban culture. In contrast, the Northern Renaissance was more focused on religious reform and scholarship, often applying humanist principles to Christian texts.

Human-centered naturalism

This is an artistic and intellectual movement that depicts individuals and everyday life as worthy subjects of artistic representation. It emphasizes human emotions, physical realism, and a focus on the natural world, moving away from purely divine or supernatural subjects.

Christian humanism

This movement within the Northern Renaissance combined humanist principles of classical learning and individualism with Christian faith. Christian humanists sought to reform Christianity by returning to the original biblical texts, promoting education, and critiquing the corrupt practices of the Catholic Church.

Erasmus

A Dutch Christian humanist and scholar, Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466-1536) was a pivotal figure in the Northern Renaissance. His work, such as In Praise of Folly, satirized the abuses of the Church and called for a more sincere, inner piety. He helped lay the intellectual groundwork for the Protestant Reformation.

The printing press

Invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440, the printing press was a revolutionary technology that enabled the mass production of books. This invention facilitated the rapid spread of Renaissance and Reformation ideas, increasing literacy and challenging the Church's monopoly on information.

Vernacular literature

Vernacular literature is writing produced in the native language of a region (e.g., Italian, French, German) rather than in Latin. The rise of this literature, spurred by the printing press, helped forge a sense of national identity and made works accessible to a wider audience.

National cultures

The rise of vernacular literature, along with centralized monarchies and shared legal systems, contributed to the development of distinct national cultures across Europe. This process fostered a sense of unity and identity among people who spoke the same language and lived under the same rule.

Top-down religious reform

This refers to religious reform initiated by the monarch or government of a state, rather than from a grassroots movement. Rulers often adopted Protestantism to consolidate power, gain control of church lands, and assert independence from the Pope, as seen in England's break with the Catholic Church under Henry VIII.

Centralization of power

This process involved monarchs gradually consolidating control over their territories by reducing the power of feudal lords and the nobility. This was achieved through the creation of professional armies, monopolies on tax collection, and centralized systems for dispensing justice.

Monopolies on tax collection, military force, and dispensing justice

These were key components of the centralization of power. By establishing a monopoly on tax collection, monarchs gained a reliable source of income. A professional military force loyal to the crown, rather than to local lords, provided a means of enforcing royal authority. By dispensing justice through royal courts, monarchs undermined the legal power of the nobility.

Lateen ship, sternpost rudder, astrolabe, compass, and portolani

These were crucial innovations in navigation and shipbuilding that enabled European exploration. The lateen ship featured a triangular sail that allowed it to sail against the wind, while the sternpost rudder made ships more maneuverable. The astrolabe and compass provided a means of determining latitude and direction, and portolani were highly accurate nautical charts.

European domination

This refers to the period from the 15th century onward when European powers established vast colonial empires, exerting political, economic, and cultural control over much of the world. This was fueled by a desire for wealth, resources, and power.

Expansion of slave trade

The growing demand for labor in European colonies, especially for sugar plantations in the Americas, led to a massive expansion of the slave trade. Europeans forcibly transported millions of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic, creating a brutal system of chattel slavery that was central to the colonial economy.

Shift of power from Mediterranean to Atlantic states

The Age of Exploration and the new global trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean caused a significant economic and political shift of power from Mediterranean states (like Venice and Genoa) to Atlantic states (like Spain, Portugal, England, and the Netherlands).

How the Columbian Exchange provided Europeans with economic opportunities

The Columbian Exchange provided Europeans with immense economic opportunities by introducing new, high-value crops from the Americas (like potatoes, corn, and tobacco) and by supplying a vast influx of silver and gold. This new wealth fueled trade, population growth, and the rise of capitalist systems.

Commercialization, capitalism, and a market-based economy

The new global trade routes led to a period of increased commercialization, or the growth of business and trade for profit. This spurred the rise of capitalism, an economic system where private individuals or companies control the means of production for profit. This led to a market-based economy driven by supply and demand, rather than tradition or state control.

Innovations in banking and finance

The increase in commerce required new financial innovations. Double-entry bookkeeping, a system where every transaction is recorded as both a debit and a credit, provided a more accurate way to track finances. Joint-stock companies allowed multiple investors to pool resources and share the risks and rewards of a venture, enabling large-scale projects like global trade voyages.

Decline in serfdom and the enclosure movement

In Western Europe, the decline of serfdom was a gradual process where peasants gained freedom from their feudal obligations, often becoming wage laborers. This was partly due to the Enclosure Movement, a process in England where common lands were privatized and fenced off, forcing many peasants off the land and into cities to seek work.

Price Revolution and decreasing standards of living for peasants

The Price Revolution was a period of high inflation in Europe during the 16th century, primarily caused by the influx of silver from the Americas and a growing population. While some merchants and landowners benefited, the rising prices and stagnant wages led to a decreasing standard of living for peasants and wage earners.

Peasant revolts in Eastern Europe

The worsening conditions for peasants, especially in Eastern Europe where serfdom persisted and was even strengthened, led to widespread peasant revolts. These uprisings, like the one led by Yemelyan Pugachev in Russia, were often brutally suppressed by the landowning nobility and the state.