1450 CE to 1750 CE Key Terms

Question 1

Renaissance:

Answer 1

A period in Western Europe marked by the revival of classical Greek and Roman culture.

Question 2

Christopher Columbus:

Answer 2

The explorer whose voyage to the Americas began the period of European colonization.

Question 3

Johannes Gutenberg:

Answer 3

An entrepreneur credited with introducing the movable type printing press to Europe.

Question 4

Martin Luther:

Answer 4

The founder of the Protestant Reformation in Germany

Question 5

95 Theses:

Answer 5

Martin Luther’s complaints against the Catholic Church

Question 6

Protestantism:

Answer 6

A broad term covering many different denominations of Christianity that split from the Catholic Church in the 1400s and 1500s.

Question 7

Isaac Newton:

Answer 7

A major figure of the Scientific Revolution. Invented calculus and theories of gravity and physics.

Question 8

John Locke:

Answer 8

An Enlightenment thinker known for articulating the idea of universal human (well, male) rights.

Question 9

Deism:

Answer 9

A philosophy common during the Scientific Revolution that held that God could not interfere in the system that God designed.

Question 10

Enlightenment:

Answer 10

A period of intellectual activity in Europe. Led by the Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment thinkers attempted to solve human problems with rational observation and logic.

Question 11

Peter the Great:

Answer 11

The tsar of Russia’s first European-style court. Also founded St. Petersburg.

Question 12

Serfs:

Answer 12

Indentured laborers considered part of feudal lords’ land.

Question 13

Encomiendas:

Answer 13

Grants of American villages to Spanish settlers.

Question 14

Sugar:

Answer 14

The most profitable cash crop of the Americas; originally brought from India.

Question 15

Silver:

Answer 15

The universal world currency of this period.

Question 16

Potosi:

Answer 16

Located in modern-day Bolivia, it remains the largest silver mine in the world.

Question 17

Slavery:

Answer 17

The institution of permanent indentured servitude.

Question 18

Middle Passage:

Answer 18

The shipping route between Africa and the Americas. Almost exclusively used for slaves.

Question 19

Triangular Trade:

Answer 19

The practice of selling European goods in Africa for slaves, slaves in Africa for American goods, and American goods in Europe for European goods.

Question 20

Ottoman Empire:

Answer 20

An empire founded by Turks, it stretched across the Mediterranean coast, the Middle East, and into Europe.

Question 21

Janissaries:

Answer 21

The elite infantry corps of the Ottoman Empire. Formed of soldiers originally abducted by the devshirme tax.

Question 22

Mughals:

Answer 22

The Muslim Mongol empire that conquered India.

Question 23

Akbar the Great:

Answer 23

The most famous Mughal leader, known for religious tolerance and building the Taj Mahal.

Question 24

Ming Dynasty:

Answer 24

The dynasty founded after expelling the Mongols from China. The Ming are most known for launching the voyages of Zheng He.

Question 25

Qing Dynasty:

Answer 25

The dynasty founded when the Ming was conquered by an invading Manchu army. The last dynasty of China.

Question 26

Tokugawa Shogunate:

Answer 26

The last shogunate of Japan. Known for being hostile to Europeans.