Unit 1A2 Vocab

Theology

The study of religion.

Ethics

The study of moral principles and behavior.

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.