Unit 1 Vocab & Important Events

1. Renaissance – A cultural and intellectual movement that revived classical learning and emphasized humanism.  

2. Humanism – An intellectual movement focusing on human potential and achievements, inspired by classical texts.  

3. Secularism – A focus on non-religious, worldly matters rather than spiritual concerns.  

4. Individualism – The idea that individuals should strive for personal excellence and recognition.  

5. Civic Humanism – The belief that education should prepare leaders for civic affairs and governance.  

6. Patronage – The financial support of artists and intellectuals by wealthy individuals, such as the Medici family.  

7. Vernacular – The use of local language instead of Latin, making literature more accessible.  

8. Printing Press – Invented by Johannes Gutenberg; it revolutionized the spread of ideas, literacy, and religious reform.  

9. Perspective – A technique in painting that creates the illusion of depth, widely used in Renaissance art.  

10. Mannerism – An artistic style that emerged after the High Renaissance, emphasizing exaggerated poses and emotion.  

### Exploration & Economic Change  

11. Caravel – A small, fast, maneuverable ship used during exploration.  

12. Astrolabe – A navigational instrument used to determine latitude.  

13. Mercantilism – An economic theory that emphasized accumulating wealth through a favorable balance of trade and colonial expansion.  

14. Columbian Exchange – The transfer of goods, ideas, diseases, and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.  

15. Encomienda System – A Spanish labor system that forced Indigenous Americans to work for Spanish settlers in return for supposed protection and Christianization.  

16. Conquistadors – Spanish explorers and conquerors who expanded Spanish territories in the Americas.  

17. Triangular Trade – A trade system linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including the Atlantic Slave Trade.  

18. Price Revolution – A period of high inflation in Europe due to an influx of gold and silver from the Americas.  

19. Commercial Revolution – The expansion of trade, banking, and capitalism in Europe, spurred by exploration and colonization.  

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## II. Key Events  

### Renaissance (c. 1350–1600)  

1. Italian Renaissance Begins (c. 1350) – Revival of classical learning and humanist ideals in Florence.  

2. Fall of Constantinople (1453) – The Ottoman Empire captures Constantinople, pushing Greek scholars to flee to Italy, bringing classical texts that fuel the Renaissance.  

3. Printing Press Invented (c. 1450) – Johannes Gutenberg’s invention allows for mass production of books, spreading Renaissance and Reformation ideas.  

4. High Renaissance (1490s–1527) – The peak of Renaissance art and culture, with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.  

### Age of Exploration (1400s–1600s)  

6. Prince Henry the Navigator Founds Navigation School (1419) – Portugal invests in maritime exploration, leading to the mapping of Africa’s coast.  

7. Bartolomeu Dias Rounds the Cape of Good Hope (1488) – Portuguese explorer proves a sea route to Asia is possible.  

8. Columbus Reaches the Americas (1492) – Spanish-sponsored voyage leads to European colonization of the New World.  

9. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) – Spain and Portugal divide newly discovered lands outside Europe along a demarcation line set by the Pope.  

10. Vasco da Gama Reaches India (1498) – First European to sail directly to India, establishing direct trade with Asia.  

11. Amerigo Vespucci’s Voyages (c. 1501–1502) – Vespucci’s explorations lead to the realization that the Americas are separate continents, not part of Asia.  

12. Ferdinand Magellan’s Voyage (1519–1522) – His expedition is the first to circumnavigate the globe, proving the world’s roundness.  

13. Hernán Cortés Conquers the Aztecs (1519–1521) – Spanish forces defeat the Aztec Empire in Mexico.  

14. Francisco Pizarro Conquers the Incas (1532–1533) – Spanish forces capture and kill the Incan emperor Atahualpa, expanding Spanish rule in South America.  

15. Columbian Exchange Begins (1500s–1600s) – Exchange of crops, animals, diseases, and culture between the Old and New Worlds.  

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## III. Key Figures  

### Renaissance Thinkers & Writers  

1. Petrarch – "Father of Humanism"; revived classical texts and promoted secular study.  

2. Niccolò Machiavelli – Wrote The Prince, which argued that rulers should be pragmatic and sometimes ruthless in maintaining power.  

3. Erasmus – A Christian humanist who wrote In Praise of Folly, criticizing Church corruption.  

4. Thomas More – Wrote Utopia, envisioning an ideal society based on communal ownership and rational governance.  

5. Baldassare Castiglione – Wrote The Book of the Courtier, outlining the ideal Renaissance gentleman and courtly behavior.  

### Renaissance Artists  

6. Leonardo da Vinci – "Renaissance Man"; painter (*Mona Lisa*, The Last Supper), scientist, and inventor.  

7. Michelangelo – Sculptor and painter (*David*, Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Pieta).  

8. Raphael – Painter (*The School of Athens*), famous for blending classical themes with Renaissance ideals.  

### Explorers & Conquistadors  

9. Prince Henry the Navigator – Portuguese royal who funded early maritime explorations.  

10. Bartolomeu Dias – First to round the southern tip of Africa.  

11. Vasco da Gama – First European to reach India by sea, opening lucrative trade routes.  

12. Christopher Columbus – Italian explorer who landed in the Americas in 1492, mistakenly believing he had reached Asia.  

13. Amerigo Vespucci – Explorer who identified the Americas as a "New World," leading to their name.  

14. Ferdinand Magellan – Led the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe.  

15. Hernán Cortés – Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs in Mexico.  

16. Francisco Pizarro – Spanish conquistador who defeated the Incas in Peru.  

17. Bartolomé de las Casas – Spanish priest who criticized the treatment of Native Americans and advocated for their rights.