AP Exam, Period I: 1450-1648

Question 1

How did the Renaissance impact scholarship, values, and ideas in social and religious affairs? (1.1.I)

Answer 1

1. Italy and northern Europe, c. 1450-1550
2. Humanism: The study of Greco-Roman texts, esp. in regards to human nature.
3. Famous humanists: Petrarch, Valla, Ficino, Pico della Mirandola
4. Invention of printing press (1453, Gutenberg, Germany) means new ideas spread faster, further, easier, and sometimes escape censorship.
5. Secularism: The belief that there are parts of reality not impacted by or connected to religious or spiritual affairs; the addition of secularism meant that medieval emphasis on faith and tradition will come under attack.

Question 2

Explain the impact of the printing press on pol, econ, cult, and soc affairs in Europe. (1.1.II)

Answer 2

1. Central and western Europe, 1453
2. Assisted in the spreading of the Renaissance ideas and values far from Italy.
3. Protestant reformers were able to disseminate their ideas more widely and quickly, promoting religious reform.
4. The middle class benefited as literacy levels rose, narrowing the gap between the middle class and the wealthy elite.
5. Governments had a way to speak directly to the masses without having to use spokesmen. Though nationalism wasn’t truly invented until mid 1700, the printing press where nationalism began.

Question 3

Define the visual and artistic styles of the Renaissance period and note how the arts were utilized by secular and religious groups. (1.1.III)

Answer 3

1. Italy, northern Europe; 1450-1550
2. Famous painters and architects: Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Brunelleschi
3. Naturalism: considers individuals and Everyday life appropriate objects of artistic representation.
4. Famous naturalists: Raphael, da Vinci, Rembrandt
5. Mannerism and Baroque: distortion, drama and illusion, generally commissioned by monarchies, city-states, or the church for public display.
6. Famous mannerists: El Greco, Bernini, Rubens

Question 4

Explain the new ideas and influential individuals of the Scientific Revolution (1500-1700), as well as the degree to which new ideas challenged and changed older, traditional ones.

Answer 4

1. Western and central Europe, 1500-1700
2. New methods in astronomy led individuals to question the teachings of the church by developing a heliocentric view of the cosmos.
3. Famous astronomers: Copernicus, Galileo, Newton
4. Medical discoveries of human body challenged traditional humoral theory about the body and deseases.
5. Famous anatomy figures: Harvey, Paracelsus
6. Inductive and deductive reasoning promoted experimentation and mathematics, championed by Bacon and Descartes.
7. Alchemy and astrology continued to appeal to elites and some natural philosophers.
8. Famous astrologers and alchemists: Cardano, Kepler, Newton

Question 5

Describe how New Monarchies (1450-1600) differed from previous Medieval Monarchs (1200-1450), being sure to note specific examples of centralization and important theorists and practitioners. (1.2.I)

Answer 5

1. New Monarchies were focused on promoting state centralization
2. Creating a monopoly on tax collection
3. Military innovation and force
4. Movement towards secular ideas of law and justice
5. Ferdinand (1469–1504) and Isabella (1451-1504) of Spain consolidate control of of the military
6. Star Chamber (1400s-1641) English court of law in the Royal Palace of Westminster, consisted of Privy Councillors and common law judges.
7. Treaty between Papacy and France, Francis I agreed to recognize the supremacy of the Papacy over a universal council. In return, the French crown gained the right to appoint all French bishops and abbots. The treaty was signed as a way for Francis I to make money. (1516)
8. Agreement Charles V and German Princes to the historic reformation, it ended the German religious warfare. It declared Lutheranism was a legal, permanent religion. It stated that German princes could determine the religion over his subjects.

Question 6

Evaluate the impact that new ideas and technologies had on diplomatic and military affairs between 1450-1648.

Answer 6

1. Advances in military tech from the military revolution, led to new forms of warfare including greater reliance on infantry, firearms, mobile cannons and elaborate fortifications financed through heavy taxation.
2. During the 1500’s Charles won a victory at the Battle of Pavia and faced the problem of paying his army, so his northern Italian forces decided to loot Rome instead.
3. Gustavus Adolphus was the main figure responsible for the success of Swedish arms during the Thirty Years War and led his nation to great prestige, with the use of innovative military tactics. He is considered the Father of Modern Warfare, and was studied by Napoleon.

Question 7

Explain the conflicts and cooperation between monarchs and nobility between 1450-1648. (1.2.III)

Answer 7

1. Nobles wanting to retain traditional governance and regional autonomy battled against Monarchies seeking more political influence.
2. Cardinal Richelieu (1628) he was first minister of the French crown. He used his substantial influence over King Louis XIII to exalt the French monarchy as the embodiment of the French state.
3. The Fronde A French rebellion that was caused by Cardinal Mazarin’s attempt to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy, caused Louis XIV to distrust the state and turn to absolutism (1648-1653).
4. The Catalan Rebellion in Spain, Catalonia rebelled against Spain because of the Union of Arms, however it failed because switched to an attack of the wealthy rather than a revolt of independence.

Question 8

How did the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation change religious and cultural values before 1700? (1.3.I)

Answer 8

1.

Question 9

Describe SUPPORTIVE and COOPERATIVE relationships between the Church and State between 1450-1648. (1.3.II and 1.1.III)

Answer 9

1.

Question 10

Describe ANTAGONISTIC and DIVISIVE relationships between the Church and State between 1450-1648 (1.3.II and 1.3.III)

Answer 10

1.

Question 11

Analyze the causes and motives that drove European states and individuals to explore and expand during Old Imperialism, from c. 1460-1800 (1.4.I and 1.4.II)

Answer 11

1. Western Europe 1460-1800
2. Causes/motives: Desire to remain economically competitive, increase in navigation technology, and to spread Christianity.
3. Economics: Rise of mercantilism (The Sun King, King Louis XIV) because European nations wanted direct access to gold, spices, and luxury goods.
4. Christianity: promoted by the state to justify colonialism and slavery of indigenous people, used to oppose Islam.Sent out missionaries to convert non European nations Ex: Britain: late 18th cent. Macartney Mission to China (failed)
5. Navigation technology: Compass, stern-post rudder, portolani, quadrant and astrolabe, and lateen rig
6. Military technology: Horses and guns (aided Europeans acquisition of colonies)

Question 12

Describe the territories/colonies controlled by major European states and the methods utilized to control these areas. (1.4.III)

Answer 12

1. 1)Western Europe 1460-1800
   2) Used force and enslaved indigenous peoples (Barbados became a cotton producing colony with African labor) or Europeans moved to colonies and were ruled as an extension of the European Empire (13 Colonies)
   2) Portuguese est. trading routes/networks in Africa, S. and E. Asia, and S. American (1500 made Brazil a colony)
   3) Spanish est. colonies in S. America (Spanish Silver mid 16th), Caribbean (Barbados), and the Pacific. Made Spanish the most influential country in Europe.
   4) France, England, and Netherlands followed suit to remain economically competitive (Quebec, 13 colonies, Dutch Gold Coast)
   5) Resulted in an increase in competition and rivalries between countries (7 years war mid 18th century)

Question 13

Explain the impact of colonialism on economic affairs, labor systems, and demographics in Europe, Africa and the Americas between 1450 and 1700. (1.4.IV)

Answer 13

1. Europe 1450-1700
2. Economic affairs: Locations of economic influence changed from the Mediterranean, to Atlantic states to a globalized economy ex expanding mercantilism and colonies
3. Labor systems: Enslaved indigenous Americans who died of European diseases thus slaves were sent to the Americas because they were immune to European diseases. Resulted in the expansion of the slave trade. Ex: enslaving of Native Americans for mining Spanish silver then moving to Africans because they died of Syphilis and Smallpox.
4. Demographics: Destroyed indigenous populations of Native Americans. Immigration of Europeans and Africans.

Question 14

Explain the impact of colonialism on indigenous American and African biological diversity, social roles, and cultural practices. (1.4.IV)

Answer 14

1. Western Europe
2. Demographics: Mestizo and Mulatto created a new class in the New World. Expansion of the Slave trade (Middle Passage, became the main labor source in the New World because of the expansion of a plantation economy) Social Darwinism was used for justification.
3. adoption of Christianity (Spanish Missionaries in the New World)
4. Colombian Exchange caused dietary changes: From Europe to the New World: wheat, cattle, horses, pigs sheep, smallpox, measles. To Americas to Europe: Tomatoes, potatoes (Irish potato famine) squash corn, tobacco turkeys Syphilis

Question 15

Analyze examples in which the economic developments of early modern Europe either produced new social patterns AND examples in which traditional hierarchical principles persisted despite such economic changes.(1.5.I)

Answer 15

1. Mostly northern/western Europe, c. 1450-1648
2. Banking/finance innovations promoted urban financial centers, money economy
3. innovations in finance: double-entry bookkeeping, Bank of Amsterdam, Dutch and British East India Companies
4. new economic elite
5. examples of economic elite: English gentry, French nobles of the robe, town elites (merchants, bankers), Spanish Caballeros and hidalgos
6. hierarchy continued to define social privileges/perceptions

Question 16

Describe major features of Europe’s agricultural economy before 1648, and then list any major economic changes to this system and their impact. (1.5.II)

Answer 16

1. Rural Europe, change before and after 1648
2. pre-1648: subsistence agriculture: farmers paid rent, labor for lands
3. agriculture examples: three-crop (northern) and two-crop (Mediterranean) rotation
4. Price Revolution: accumulation of capital, expansion of the market economy, commercialization of agriculture, benefitted large landowners
5. examples of commercialization of agriculture: enclosure movement, restricted use of commons, freehold tenure
6. Western Europe: free peasantry, commercial agriculture
7. Eastern Europe: codification of serfdom
8. landlords restricted, abolished rights of peasantry (trying to increase revenues), led to revolts

Question 17

Outline the demographic and economic impacts on urban life, especially in terms of cities’ economic importance, and traditional political and social roles. (1.5.III)

Answer 17

1. Growing urban centers: 16th century
2. Reduced standards of living due to price increases caused by increase in population to pre-plague numbers
3. Migrants challenged authority of merchant elites/craft guilds
4. Examples of migrants challenging urban elites: overpopulation-caused sanitation problems, employment, poverty, crime
5. Social dislocation, weakening of religious institutions caused city governments to regulate public morals
6. Examples of cities regulating public morals: secular laws regulating private life, laws against prostitution and begging, abolishing or restricting Carnival, Calvin’s Geneva

Question 18

Describe the typical pre-modern European family, being sure to note the social and economic importance of family units. (1.5.IV)

Answer 18

1. Late 15th-early 17th
2. Households-basic units of production in rural and urban areas, men and women had separate, complementary tasks
3. Renaissance and Reformation raised debates about female roles
4. Examples of debates about female roles: education, women as preachers, La Querelle des Femmes
5. Late 16th forward: economic and environmental challenges (i.e. Little Ice Age), prompted Europeans to delay marriage/childbearing, restrained population growth, improved economic conditions for families

Question 19

Explain the characteristics, activities, and rituals of traditional European communities pre-1648, and the extent to which each one created or destroyed community cohesion. (1.5.V)

Answer 19

1. Local European communities, late 16th, early 17th
2. Communal leisure activities persisted, organized by religious and agricultural calendar
3. Examples of leisure activities: Saint’s day festivities, Carnival, blood sports
4. Local and church authorities continued to enforce norms through public humiliation
5. Examples of public humiliation: Charivari, stocks, public whipping and branding
6. accusations of witchcraft peaked