AP Euro Vocab: Period 1: 1450-1648
Spanish Armada
"Invincible" group of ships sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England in 1588; Armada was defeated by smaller, more maneuverable English "sea dogs" in the Channel; marked the beginning of English naval dominance and fall of Spanish dominance.
Renaissance
"rebirth"; following the Middle Ages, a movement that centered on the revival of interest in the classical learning of Greece and Rome
Erasmus
(1466?-1536) Dutch Humanist and friend of Sir Thomas More. Perhaps the most intellectual man in Europe and widely respected. Believed the problems in the Catholic Church could be fixed; did not suport the idea of a Reformation. Wrote Praise of Folly.
Thirty Years' War
(1618-48) A series of European wars that were partially a Catholic-Protestant religious conflict. It was primarily a battle between France and their rivals the Hapsburg's, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.
Newton
(1642-1727) An English natural philosopher who studied at Cambridge and eventually developed the laws of movement found among the bodies of Earth. Spent his life dedicated to the study of mathematics (created calculus) and optics. Published Principia Mathematica and discovered the law of universal gravitation.
Copernicus
1473-1543. Polish astronomer who was the first to formulate a scientifically based heliocentric cosmology that displaced the earth from the center of the universe. This theory is considered the epiphany that began the Scientific Revolution.
Charles I of England
1600-1649; King of England 1625-1649; numerous conflicts with Parliament; fought wars with France, Spain, and Scotland; eventually provoked Civil War, convicted of treason, and beheaded
Rene Descartes
17th century French philosopher; wrote Discourse on Method; 1st principle "i think therefore i am"; believed mind and matter were completly seperate; known as father of modern rationalism
Martin Luther
95 Thesis, posted in 1517, led to religious reform in Germany, denied papal power and absolutist rule. Claimed there were only 2 sacraments: baptism and communion.
The Fronde
A French rebellion (brutal civil war) that was caused by Mazarin's (absolutist Cardinal whom was concerned with rebellious nobles and who played a crucial role in the establishment of Westphalian principles) attempt to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy; caused Louis XIV to distrust the state and turn to absolutism
John Calvin
A French theologian who established a theocracy in the Geneva and is best known for his theory of predestination. Bible is the sole word of God. Helped create the protestant work ethic. Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion (1509-1564) Founder of Calvinism
Anabaptist
A Protestant sect that believed only adults could make a free choice regarding religion; they also advocated pacifism, separation of church and state, and democratic church organization.
Christian Humanism
A branch of humanism associated with northern Europe. Like their Italian counterparts, the Christian humanists closely studied classical texts. However, they also sought to give humanism a specifically Christian content. Christian humanists like Desiderius Erasmus were committed to religious piety and institutional reform.
Gentry (England)
A class of powerful, well-to-do people who enjoy a high social status
Constitutional Monarchy
A form of government in which the king retains his position as head of state, while the authority to tax and make new laws resides in an elected body.
Smallpox
A highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, weakness, and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs; responsible for killing Native Americans.
Scientific Revolution
A major change in European thought, starting in the mid-1500s, in which the study of the natural world began to be characterized by careful observation and the questioning of accepted beliefs.
Printing Press
A mechanical device for transferring text or graphics from a woodblock or type to paper using ink. Presses using movable type first appeared in Europe in about 1450.
Glorious Revolution
A reference to the political events of 1688-1689, when James II abdicated his throne and was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband, Prince William of Orange.
Roman Inquisition
A religious committee of six Roman cardinals that tried heretics and punished the guilty by imprisonment and execution.
Protestant Reformation
A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches; Religious reform movement within the Latin Christian Church beginning in 1519. It spit the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the 'protesters' forming several new Christian denominations, including the Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Churches, among many others.
Triangular Trade
A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s Africa sent slaves to America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe, and Europe sent Guns and Rum to Africa
The British East India Company
A trade company who was able to monopolize British trade with India.
Serfdom
A type of labor commonly used in feudal systems in which the laborers work the land in return for protection but they are bound to the land and are not allowed to leave or to peruse their a new occupation. This was common in early Medieval Europe as well as in Russia until the mid 19th century.
Jesuits
Also known as the Society of Jesus; founded by Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) as a teaching and missionary order to resist the spread of Protestantism.
Mercantilism
An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought
Spanish Inquisition
An organization of priests in Spain that looked for and punished anyone suspected of secretly practicing their old religion instead of Roman Catholicism.
Johannes Kepler
Assistant to Brahe; used Brahe's data to prove that the earth moved in an elliptical, not circular, orbit; Wrote 3 laws of planetary motion based on mechanical relationships and accurately predicted movements of planets in a sun-centered universe; Demolished old systems of Aristotle and Ptolemy
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
August 24, 1572 rioters killed 3,000 Protestants in one night (in Paris)
African Slave Trade
Beginning in the 1500's, African people were taken as slaves to be sold in America, in America they would work in mines & plantations. The profit went to europe where they built goods to then be sold to Africans. It was a triangle.
Military Revolution
By the 17th century, military power was essential to a rulers power and reputation; firearms were introduced, modernizing the style of fighting; military schools were developed; new fighting tactics - verticle formations; war was more expensive and numerous, causing taxes to swell
Council of Trent
Called by Pope Paul III to reform the church and secure reconciliation with the Protestants. Lutherans and Calvinists did not attend.
Henry VIII of England
Catholic, attacked Luther, called "Defender of the Faith," wanted a divorce because he had no male heir, asked Pope and he said no, got Parliament to get rid of the Pope's power in England, Act of Supremacy made him the head of England's church, married 6 times
Charles V of Holy Roman Empire
Charles I of Spain; inherited the thrones of the Netherlands, Spain, and the Hapsburg possessions but failed in his attempt to bring all of Europe under his imperial rule; sought to create an organized state-supported religion and abolish disruptions that religious disunity would cause
Henry IV of France
Comes to power in 1589 and converts France to Catholicism which brings a lot of controversy. In the Edict of Nantes he states that Catholicism is the official religion of France but grants Huguenots the right of religious and political freedom- this avoids war and makes people like him.
Balance of Power
Condition of roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries.
English Civil War
Conflict from 1640 to 1660; featured religious disputes mixed with constitutional issues concerning the powers of the monarchy; ended with restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following execution of previous king
Huguenots
Converts or adherents to Calvinism in France, including many from the French nobility wishing to challenge the authority of the Catholic monarch. Also known as French Protestants.
Northern Renaissance
Cultural and intellectual movement of northern Europe, began later than the Italian Renaissance (circa 1450), centered in France, Low Countries, England, and Germany, featured a greater emphasis on religion than the Italian Renaissance
William Harvey
Discovered the circulation of blood and the role of the heart in propelling it. Developed an accurate theory of how the heart and circulatory system operated.
Ferdinand and Isabella
During the late 15th century, they became King and Queen of a united Spain after centuries of Islamic domination. Together, they made Spain a strong Christian nation and also provided funding to overseas exploration, notably Christopher Columbus.
Puritans
English Protestant dissenters who believed that God predestined souls to heaven or hell before birth. They founded Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629. Sought to "purify" the Church of England
Oliver Cromwell
English military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War (1642-1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. As lord protector of England (1653-1658) he ruled as a virtual dictator.
Phillip II of Spain
European ruler who tried to make England Catholic by marrying the Queen and sending an armada; Spain reached the height of its influence and power because of him, he did not listen to his advisers and dictated all actions of Spain
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of goods, ideas, diseases, and people between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Each region was significantly impacted as a result of trade and contact.
Andreas Vesalius
Flemish scientist who pioneered the study of anatomy and provided detailed overviews of the human body and its systems.
Jan Van Eyck
He was a 1400's Flemish painter who was among the first to use oil paints and paint scenes of everyday life with realistic details.
Humanism
In the Renaissance, both a belief in the value of human achievement and an educational program based on classical Greek and Roman languages and values
Price Revolution
Increase in prices in 16th century inflation increased demand for goods-influx of gold and silver.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Italian Renaissance writer, described government in the way it actually worked (ruthless). He wrote The Prince (the end justifies the mean).
Leonardo da Vinci
Italian painter, engineer, musician, and scientist. The most versatile genius of the Renaissance, Leonardo filled notebooks with engineering and scientific observations that were in some cases centuries ahead of their time. As a painter Leonardo is best known for The Last Supper (c. 1495) and Mona Lisa (c. 1503).
Galileo
Italian scientist who found the law of the Pendulum, telescope, and he also supported the radical ideas of Copernicus; Hated by the church he was sentenced for believing in Copernicus to house arrest for the rest of his life
Henry VII of England
Just like Louis XI of France, Henry VII of England subordinated mortality; he ruthlessly suppressed opposition and rebellion, especially from the nobility. He left England at peace domestically and internationally with the dignity and the role of the royal majesty enhanced.
Vernacular Language
Language spoken by the common people of a nation or region. (i.e. - English, Italian, etc.) This term is as opposed to the use of formal Latin.
Sir Thomas More
Renaissance humanist and chancellor of England, executed by Henry VIII for his refusal to acknowledge publicly his king as Supreme Head of the Church Clergy of England. He believed that the basic problems of society were caused by greed. Law should exalt mercy above justice. Citizens who live by reason will live a nearly perfect life. Wrote Utopia (1478-1535)
Elizabeth I of England
She supported the northern protestant cause as a safeguard against Spain attacking England. She had her rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded. Elizabeth I of England succeeded Mary and reestablished Protestantism in England.
Gustavus Adolphus
Swedish Lutheran king who won victories for the German Protestants in the Thirty Years' War and lost his life in one of the battles (1594-1632); One of the first to use handheld muskets in warfare; displayed his Protestant faith by getting involved in the 30 years war
95 Theses
The 95 propositions of challenges to official Church theology posted by Martin Luther on the door of Wittenberg castle church in the autumn of 1517
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion (1562-98) is the name of a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots). The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise (Lorraine), and both sides received assistance from foreign sources.
Crop Rotation
The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.
Enclosure Movement
The process of consolidating small landholdings into a smaller number of larger farms in England during the eighteenth century.
James I of England
The son of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, he succeeded the childless Elizabeth as James I of England. He was not popular and was an outsider. He inherited a large royal debt and a divided church.
God, Glory, and Gold
The three motivations for Europeans to explore the new world
Peace of Westphalia
The treaty ending the Thirty Years' War in Germany; it allowed each prince- whether Lutheran, Catholic, or Calvinist- to choose the established creed of his territory (1648)
Individualism
The unique importance of each individual
Civic Humanism
This ideology was celebrated during the Renaissance by many political theorists in Italian city-states. They preached public virtue and serving one's state for the greater good. They felt that individuals owed a service to their community and their government.
War of the Three Henries
This was the last of the wars that occurred over the religious differences in France, between the Catholics (Henry III of France and Henry of Guise) and Protestants (Henry IV)
Age of Exploration
Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans.
Peace of Augsburg 1555
Treaty which ended religious warfare between Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, it acknowledged Lutheranism as a religion, and those states had the same rights at Catholic states; German states were free to choose the religion of their country, but individuals were not able to choose their religion
Social Dislocation
When people do not feel part of their community. This may be due to changes happening in the community like industrialization.
Catholic Reformation/Counter-Reformation
a 16th century movement in which the Roman Catholic Church sought to make changes in response to the Protestant Reformation
Bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives
Centralization
concentration of power in 1 authority, usually under command of mayor or some other official
The Dutch East India Company
dominated trade in the Indian Ocean, had power to declare war, trade, and commission treaties.
Francis Bacon
he urged people to use experimental methods to find answers, rather than accepting ancient beliefs; started the scientific method
Edict of Nantes 1598
issued by Henry IV of France, religious toleration to Huguenots, first formal recognition by a monarchy that 2 religions could coexist, revoked by Louis XIV 1685
Ursulines
order of nuns; education of girls and women; influential in France and North America
Nepotism
showing favoritism to friends or family, as in granting positions in jobs or politics.
Secularism
the belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other public parts of society
Louis XIII of France
weak ruler; son of Henry IV; political adviser was Richelieu --- divine right; 30 Years' War --- took Protestant side
Catherine de Medici
wife of Henry II, influenced her sons after the end of there father's rein. She placed an alliance with the ultra-Catholics (the militant Catholics), which was led by the second most powerful family in France, The Guise Family. She permitted the Guise Family their own independent army,which they would use to take out the other religions residing within the French Borders. This led to the civil wars in France and also the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
