Key Concepts from the Age of Reformation and The Catholic Reformation

A key historical figure in 16th century France, significant to the religious and political conflicts of the period.

A major event in 1572 where thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed, exacerbating the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in France.

A civil war in France from 1587 to 1589, involving three main leaders: King Henry III of France, Henry of Navarre (Henry IV), and Henry I, Duke of Guise.

Originally Henry of Navarre, he became King of France and is known for his efforts to restore peace and stability after the religious wars by issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598, granting rights to Protestants.

Ruled over the vast Habsburg empire, struggled to maintain control over diverse territories amid the rise of Protestantism and political challenges.

Likely refers to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor who aimed to strengthen the Habsburg dynasty and had to navigate through the complexities of the Reformation.

A Holy Roman Emperor known for his role in the Thirty Years' War, championing Catholic interests against Protestantism.

Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to Louis XIII, central in strengthening the French state and curtailing the power of the nobility and Habsburgs.

The King of Sweden known for his innovative military strategies and significant role in the Thirty Years' War, leading Protestant forces against the Catholic League.

A group of French moderates in the late 16th century who believed in a rational compromise between Catholic and Protestant faiths to establish peace and stability.

A 1629 decree issued by Ferdinand II during the Thirty Years' War, ordering the restoration of Catholic properties lost to Protestants since 1552.

The large Spanish fleet sent in 1588 by Philip II of Spain to invade England, representing the height of Spanish power and its challenge to Protestant England.

A tribunal established by the Duke of Alba in the Netherlands to suppress Protestant dissent, infamous for its harsh punishments.

The alliance of seven northern provinces of the Netherlands in 1579, which united to declare independence from Spanish rule and laid the foundation for the Dutch Republic.

Examining the continuities and changes in the role of the Catholic Church from 1450 to 1648.
Key Question(s):
- How did the Catholic Reformation, exemplified by the Jesuit Order and the Council of Trent, revive the church but cement division within Christianity?

St. Teresa of Avila: A reformer of the Carmelite order, influential in the mystical and spiritual landscape of Catholicism.
Ursulines: An order of nuns focused on the education of girls and the moral reform of society.
Roman Inquisition: A part of the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, instating strict orthodoxy through censorship and persecution.
Index of Prohibited Books: A list established by the Catholic Church containing literature deemed unsuitable for Catholics.

Exploring economic and intellectual developments from 1450 to 1648 and their impacts on social norms and hierarchies.
Key Question(s):
- How did class, religion, and gender continue to define social status and perceptions in rural and urban settings?
- How were families structured and work divided?
- How did the Renaissance and Reformation raise debates about female education and women's roles in family, church, and society?
- Why and how did city governments begin regulating public morals?
- What were leisure activities like during this time? How were they communal in nature? How were norms enforced?
- How and why did witchcraft accusations peak between 1580 and 1650?

Social Hierarchies: The period saw entrenched class divisions based on wealth, education, and religious affiliation.
Blood sports: Activities involving hunting and animal baiting that were popular among the wealthy and served as social entertainment.
La Querelle des Femmes: A literary debate that arose regarding women's nature and roles in society.
Saint’s day festivities: Community celebrations that reinforced local identities and social structures.
Carnival: A time of festivity prior to Lent, characterized by public celebrations that often challenged existing social norms.
Witchcraft: Widespread beliefs led to the persecution of alleged witches, fueled by societal fears and tensions.
The Witches Hammer: A notorious treatise on witch hunting that justified the persecution of supposed witches.
Charivari, Stocks, and Public Whipping: Various forms of public punishment and societal regulation to enforce norms and behaviors.

Investigating the changes in artistic expression from 1450 to 1648.
Key Question(s):
- How did Mannerist and Baroque artists employ distortion, drama, and illusion in their work?
- Why did monarchies, city-states, and the church commission these works?

El Greco: Known for his unique style characterized by elongated figures and emotive use of color, merging Byzantine and Western styles.
Artemisia Gentileschi: A prominent female painter noted for her strong female subjects and Biblical themes.
Gian Bernini: An architect and sculptor whose work exemplified Baroque art, focusing on grandeur, elaboration, and emotional expression.
Peter Paul Rubens: A Baroque painter known for his dynamic compositions and vivid colors, emphasizing movement.

Explaining how religious, political, and cultural developments of the 16th and 17th centuries affected European society from 1450 to 1648.
Key Question(s):
- How did religious pluralism challenge the concept of a unified Europe?
- How did the Protestant and Catholic reformations change society (i.e., religious institutions, theology, culture, attitudes toward wealth and prosperity)?
- How did religious reform increase state control of religious institutions and provide justifications for challenging state authority?
- How did conflicts among religious groups overlap with political and economic competition within and among states?