AP European History Review Notes

Period 1: Renaissance & Reformation (1300-1600)

  • Humanism:
    • Focuses on human potential and achievements.
    • Associated with figures like Petrarch.
  • Northern Humanism:
    • Emphasizes Christian teachings and moral reform.
    • Associated with Erasmus and Sir Thomas More.
  • Role of Patrons:
    • Wealthy individuals who supported artists and scholars.
    • Major patrons: Medici family and the Catholic Church.
  • Characteristics of Renaissance Art:
    • Realism: Accurate representation of the subject.
    • Perspective: Creating depth and dimension.
    • Individualism: Highlighting unique traits.
    • Themes: Classical mythology, religious scenes, and portraits.
  • Renaissance Work of Art Example:
    • Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci; significance lies in its realism and enigmatic expression.
  • Castiglione's "Renaissance Man" (The Courtier):
    • Pursue: Broad knowledge, artistic skills, and social grace.
    • Avoid: Arrogance and excessive displays of skill.
  • Social Changes:
    • Education: Increased access, especially for the elite.
    • Role of Women: Limited, though some noblewomen gained influence.
  • Machiavelli's The Prince:
    • Rulers Should: Be pragmatic, cunning, and prioritize the state.
    • Rulers Avoid: Being hated, losing control, and being virtuous when it harms the state.
  • Exploration:
    • Motives: Gold, God, and Glory.
    • Prince Henry the Navigator: Pioneered Portuguese exploration.
    • Vasco de Gama: Sailed to India, opening trade routes.
    • Hernando Cortes: Conquered the Aztec Empire.
    • Bartolome de las Casas: Criticized the mistreatment of Native Americans.

Key Definitions & Figures

  • Gutenberg: Invented the printing press, facilitating the spread of knowledge.
  • Vernacular: Use of common language, making texts accessible.
  • Secular: Non-religious, worldly focus.
  • Ferdinand & Isabella: Unified Spain, sponsored exploration, and initiated the Spanish Inquisition.
  • Erasmus: Northern humanist, advocated for Church reform.
  • Sir Thomas More: Wrote Utopia, critiquing society.
  • Henry VII of England: Established the Tudor dynasty after the Wars of the Roses.
  • Wars of the Roses: English dynastic conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
  • Henry VIII: Broke with the Catholic Church, forming the Church of England.
  • Elizabeth I: Stabilized England, supported the arts, and defeated the Spanish Armada.
  • Politique: Ruler who prioritizes political stability over religious uniformity.
  • German Peasant Revolt (1525): Aimed for social and economic reform but was suppressed.
    • Goal: To seek better treatment and rights based on Luther's teachings; Luther did not support the revolt.
  • Miguel Cervantes: Wrote Don Quixote, satirizing chivalry.
  • Philip II of Spain: Championed Catholicism, clashed with England and the Dutch.
  • Great Schism: Period of multiple rival popes, undermining Church authority.
  • Pope Julius II: Warrior pope, commissioned Renaissance art.
  • Indulgences: Pardons for sins, sold by the Church.
  • Simony: Selling of Church offices.
  • Nepotism: Favoring relatives for Church positions.
  • Theocracy: Government ruled by religious leaders.
  • Huguenot: French Protestant.

Reformation & Counter-Reformation

  • Martin Luther's 95 Theses:
    • Prompted by the sale of indulgences.
    • Posted in Wittenberg in 1517.
  • Differences Between Lutheran and Catholic Church:
    • Authority: Bible vs. Pope and tradition.
    • Salvation: Faith alone vs. faith and works.
    • Sacraments: Two (Baptism and Communion) vs. seven.
    • Clergy: Allowed to marry vs. celibate.
  • Beliefs of John Calvin:
    • Geneva, Switzerland.
    • Predestination: God has predetermined who will be saved.
    • Lifestyle Restrictions: No dancing, drinking, gambling, or lavish dress.
  • Counter-Reformation Goal:
    • To reform the Catholic Church and combat Protestantism.
  • Henry VIII's Break with Catholic Church:
    • Desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon.
  • Loyola's Jesuit Order Goals:
    • Education, missionary work, and combating heresy.
  • Council of Trent Decisions:
    • Reaffirmed Catholic doctrines, reformed abuses, and emphasized education.
  • Church of England Beliefs:
    • Monarch as head, English Bible, and blend of Catholic and Protestant elements.
  • Mannerism Characteristics:
    • Exaggerated proportions, distorted perspective, and emotional intensity.
    • Famous Mannerist Artist: El Greco.

Wars of Religion

  • Charles V Problems:
    • Wars: Conflict with France, Ottoman Empire, and Protestant princes.
    • Religious Strife: Division within the Holy Roman Empire.
  • Peace of Augsburg:
    • Allowed rulers to choose the religion of their territory (Catholicism or Lutheranism).
    • Charles divided his kingdom due to the strain of constant wars and religious conflicts. He split the Hapsburg territories between his son Philip II and his brother Ferdinand I.
  • French Wars of Religion:
    • War of the Three Henrys:
      • Valois Family: Led by Henry III. Their unpopularity stemmed from perceived corruption and mismanagement.
      • Guise Family: Led by Henry, Duke of Guise. Strict Catholic supported by the Catholic League.
      • Bourbon Family: Led by Henry, Duke of Navarre. Protestant, supported by Huguenots and some nobles.
    • Catherine de Medici: Unpopular due to her perceived manipulation and role in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
    • St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: Mass killing of Huguenots.
    • Henry VI (formerly Henry of Navarre) Goals: To unite France and end religious conflict.
    • "Paris is worth a mass.": Henry's conversion to Catholicism for political expediency.
    • Edict of Nantes: Granted religious toleration to Huguenots.
  • Thirty Years War Cause:
    • Religious and political tensions in the Holy Roman Empire.
    • Defenestration of Prague: Bohemian Protestants threw Catholic officials out of a window.
  • France's Involvement in Thirty Years War:
    • To weaken the Habsburgs and gain territory.
  • Destruction During Thirty Years War:
    • Concentrated in modern-day Germany.
  • Peace of Westphalia:
    • Ended the Thirty Years War, recognizing the sovereignty of states and religious pluralism.

Period 2: Absolutism & Constitutionalism (1600-1750)

  • Absolute Monarchy vs. Constitutional Monarchy:
    • Common: Centralized power and professional armies.
  • Divine Right Theory:
    • Rulers derive authority from God.
  • Mercantilism:
    • Economic system focused on accumulating wealth through trade and colonies.
  • Habeas Corpus Act:
    • Protects against unlawful imprisonment.
  • Petition of Right:
    • Limited the king's power, requiring parliamentary consent for taxes and imprisonment.
  • Parliamentarians/ “Roundheads”:
    • Supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War.
  • House of Lords:
    • Upper house of Parliament, representing the aristocracy.
  • House of Commons:
    • Lower house of Parliament, representing the commoners.
  • Cardinal Richelieu:
    • Chief minister of France, strengthened the monarchy.
  • Jean Baptiste Colbert:
    • Louis XIV's finance minister, promoted mercantilism.
  • Absolutist Monarchs:
    • Louis XIV (France):
      • When/Where: 1643-1715, France.
      • Accomplishments: Built Palace of Versailles, centralized power, patronized the arts, conducted numerous wars.
      • Problems: The Fronde (rebellions), costly wars, and religious tensions.
    • Peter the Great (Russia):
      • When/Where: 1682-1725, Russia.
      • Accomplishments: Westernization, built St. Petersburg (port city), modernized the army, and reformed the government.
      • Problems: Resistance to westernization and high taxes.
    • Frederick the Great (Prussia):
      • When/Where: 1740-1786, Prussia.
      • Accomplishments: Military victories, promoted education, and religious tolerance.
      • Problems: Wars and maintaining a strong military.

Road to English Constitutionalism

  • James I:
    • Accomplishments: United the crowns of England and Scotland.
    • Problems: Clashed with Parliament over finances and divine right.
    • Fate: Natural death.
    • Supported by the Church and aristocracy due to his belief in the divine right of kings.
  • Charles I:
    • Accomplishments: Patronized the arts.
    • Problems: English Civil War, clashed with Parliament over taxes and religion.
    • Fate: Executed.
  • Charles II:
    • Accomplishments: Restored the monarchy after the Interregnum.
    • Problems: Religious tensions and the Great Plague.
    • Fate: Natural death.
  • James II:
    • Accomplishments: Attempted religious toleration.
    • Problems: Catholic sympathies alienated Protestants.
    • Fate: Deposed in the Glorious Revolution.
  • William & Mary:
    • Accomplishments: Accepted the English Bill of Rights, establishing constitutional monarchy.
    • Problems: Maintaining stability after the revolution.
    • Fate: William died in 1702, Mary in 1694.
  • Glorious Revolution:
    • Called "glorious" because it was bloodless.
  • English Bill of Rights (1689):
    • Main Provisions: Limited the power of the monarch, guaranteed parliamentary supremacy, protected individual rights, freedom of speech, and no cruel and unusual punishment.
  • Baroque Art Characteristics:
    • Drama, grandeur, and emotional intensity.
    • Artists: Bernini and Caravaggio.

Period 2: Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment (1500-1789)

  • Geocentric View:
    • Earth is the center of the universe.
  • Discovery of the New World's Impact:
    • Sparked scientific inquiry by challenging existing knowledge.
  • Catholic Church's Impact on Scientific Revolution:
    • Initially resisted scientific ideas that contradicted Church teachings but later supported some scientific endeavors.
  • Innovations and Thinkers:
    • Microscope: Zacharias Janssen.
    • Calculus: Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
    • Modern Telescope: Galileo Galilei.
    • Anatomy Studies: Andreas Vesalius.
    • Smallpox Inoculation: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.
    • Function of the Heart: William Harvey.
    • Elliptical Path of Planets: Johannes Kepler.
    • Scientific Method: Francis Bacon.
  • Natural Philosophers of the Scientific Revolution:
    • Copernicus:
      • When & Where: 1473-1543, Poland.
      • Main Accomplishments: Heliocentric theory.
    • Brahe:
      • When & Where: 1546-1601, Denmark.
      • Main Accomplishments: Astronomical observations.
    • Kepler:
      • When & Where: 1571-1630, Germany.
      • Main Accomplishments: Laws of planetary motion.
    • Galileo:
      • When & Where: 1564-1642, Italy.
      • Main Accomplishments: Improved telescope, confirmed heliocentric theory.
    • Newton:
      • When & Where: 1643-1727, England.
      • Main Accomplishments: Laws of motion and universal gravitation.
    • Descartes:
      • When & Where: 1596-1650, France.
      • Main Accomplishments: Cartesian coordinate system, emphasized reason.

Agricultural Revolution

  • Factors Leading to Increased Food Production:
    • Crop rotation, new crops, and improved farming techniques.
  • Jethro Tull's Invention:
    • Seed drill, which allowed for more efficient planting.
  • Products from the Americas:
    • Potatoes and corn became staples in the European diet.
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