Studied by 15 people
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 the historical development and origin of language.
Vatican
An independent state in the heart of the city of Rome that is ruled by the Pope. It is the center of the Catholic Church’s governing authority.
Donation of Constantine
A medieval document that was falsely claimed to be a Roman deed that gave 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 coined by Castiglione to refer to the ideal man who can do everything and do it all well.
Civic Humanism
Renaissance intellectual movement that sought to design a more ideal form of government, inspired by classical Greek and Roman models.
Political Science
The study of different forms of government.
Christian Humanism
Renaissance intellectual movement that focused on trying to return the Church to earlier and more authentic practice of the faith.
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 spread of the Renaissance into Northern and Western Europe, especially Germany and the Netherlands. It was more focused on religious issues than was the Italian Renaissance.
Low Countries
Collective term to refer to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Hierarchical
A societal structure that divides people into different ranks from highest to lowest.
Clergy
The formal leaders of any given religion. Examples of clergy would be priests, bishops, ministers, rabbis, and imams.
Peasants
One of the lower classes, they are rural, agricultural free laborers.
Serfs
One of the lower classes, they are rural, agricultural labor who are bound to the land.
Artisans
A type of skilled worker who produces items by hand, such as a tailor, a shoemaker, or a potter.
Guild
A medieval trade organization made up of workers from a common industry. The guild controlled the training of new members, the quality of goods produced, and pricing.
Rationalize
To attempt to explain or justify an action or belief that others might find offensive.
Primogeniture
The ancient law that the first born male in a family inherited all property and titles.
Feminist
The movement that seeks to elevate the status and opportunities for females.
querelles de femmes
Term for the centuries-long debate about the proper role of women in European society.
Perspective
The artistic technique of creating three-dimensional depth on a flat surface.
Contrapposto
Artistic technique of showing a human figure with the weight on a single limb.
Gothic
Architectural style associated with the late-Middle Ages and often characterized with pointed arches, flying buttresses, and the use of stained glass windows.
New Monarchs
Historical term for those rulers who came to power in the 1500’s and were able to establish stronger control over their nation’s than medieval kings ever could.
War of the Roses
A civil war in England from 1455 – 1485 fought for control of the throne.
Tudor
The family that controlled the English throne from 1485 – 1603.
Regicide
The act of killing a ruling monarch
usurper
Term refers to someone who seizes power that does not rightfully belong to them.
dynasty
A succession of members of a single family who control or rule a nation.
Moors
A Muslim people of North African origin who conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages and ruled much of the region for centuries.
Iberian Peninsula
Term for the geographic region of southwestern Europe that includes the nations of Portugal and Spain.
Inquisition
Term for religious courts set up by Catholic authorities in Spain to root out anyone suspected of practicing the Jewish or Muslim religions. The courts could use torture and death to enforce their power.
Centralized
The concentration of authority and control in a single person or place.
Habsburg
The family that ruled over the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and Spain for many centuries.
