Renaissance & Reformation Study Guide

• The Renaissance was a cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. It was characterized by a revival of interest in classical art, literature, and learning.

Renaissance

Vocabulary

Renaissance: 

• “Rebirth”

• It is used to describe this time because there was a rebirth of Greek and Roman culture.

Secularism

• Related to worldly things, but does not include religion

Humanism

• System of thought that focuses on humans rather than divine matters

Patron

• A person who supports artists, writers, or creative institutions with money, gifts, or social or political influence

Monastic

• Pertaining to monasteries, or the way of life of monks and nuns

Gothic

• A style of architecture used in Western Europe characterized by pointed arches, vaulting, and the use of detailed woodwork and stonework

• From roughly 1100s-1500s

Flemish

• People of the Flanders region

• An area now divided among Belgium, France, and the Netherlands

Individualism

• Being able to be religious without going to a church and listening to a priest, thinking about yourself more than others. With the bible and the printing press. 

People

Erasmus

• A Roman Catholic priest

• Decided that the Catholic Church needed some changes (be reformed) and mocked church practices

• Wanted to make certain reforms and leave other things unchanged

Cosimo de Medici

• His family became patrons of the arts and promoted the study of classical (ancient) literature

• Established the Medici family as effective rulers

Donatello

• A sculptor

• Studied Greek and Roman statues

• Sculpted figures such as Saint George, a famous Christian saint

Michelangelo

• A sculptor

• Portrayed the human being as a reflection of diving beauty

• Sculpted David, a statue of the biblical hero and created his fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, that features ideal bodies in perfect proportions 

Leonardo Da Vinci

• An artist

• Famous for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper and studied anatomy

• Worked with the laws of perspective to create realistic works of art

Filippo Brunelleschi

• An architect

• Studied the buildings of classical Rome and designed churches with classical columns and rounded arches and an alternative to gothic cathedrals

Johannes Gutenberg

• Created the printing press

William Shakespeare

• A famous English poet and playwright

• Used plots from ancient texas rebooted in an updated way for his comedies, tragedies, and histories

Reformation 

Vocabulary

Reform

• “Change”

Protestant

• Protecting the Roman Catholic Church

Piety

• Faith, religious goodness

Indulgences

• A pardon from God for the punishment of sin in exchange for penance and charity

Salvation

• The act of being saved or protected from the consequences of sin

Sacraments

• A religious ceremony in the Christian church

Huguenots

• French Protestants

• Made up a small part of the total French population but nearly half of the French nobility (being noble in character, quality, or rank)

People

People

Martin Luther

• A monk (German priest and theologian)

• Listed his complaints against the Catholic Church

• Formed Lutheranism

John Calvin

• A French Protestant 

• Agreed with Luther, and believed that God Predestined certain people to be saved (the elect), and the others to be damned (the Reprobates)

• Formed Calvinism

Henry VIII

• A king

• Had parliament formally separate the Catholic Church in England from the pope in Rome (many believe he wanted more personal control and the right to divorce his wives)

• Had 6 wives

Queen Elizabeth I

• “Supreme governor” of both church and state

• Restored Protestantism to England after Mary’s death

Event

Spanish Armada

• Who was involved?

  • Spain (under King Philip II)

  • England (under Queen Elizabeth I)

• Goal?

  • Phillip II sent his impressive Spanish armada to overthrow Protestantism (as well as the queen)

• Result?

  • The English ships were fast and destroyed the Spanish fleet

  • The balance of power shifted out of Spain’s favor and into the hands of England and France

Questions:

• Why did people start protesting against the Roman Catholic Church? (give three examples of corruption)

  • People that there were certain changes or reforms that need to happen to the Church

  • There were complaints about the church’s sale of indulgences; things that the churches were doing, that they thought were wrong

  • Luther held that it was faith alone that brought about salvation

• Why were Martin Luther’s beliefs pleasing to peasants?

  • Peasants believed in Luther’s message of equality

• What were some of the extreme Calvinist beliefs?

  • No dancing, swearing, drinking, and playing cards

• How would the idea of predestination change the way you live your life - if you were an “elect” how would you behave differently than if you were a “reprobate”?

  • If predestination changed the way I lived my life and I were an “elect” I would most likely be very pure, not acting in any wrong doings or disrespecting others. However, if I were a “reprobate,” I would be the exact opposite, participating in actions that I should never do and disrespecting others. 

• Do you believe in predestination? Why or why not?

  • I don’t really believe that God chooses if you are to be saved or damned, but I think he can choose or influence me to be the person that I can become. I don’t think that certain people will be saved or damned, because I think God loves us all.