Chapter 16 - Transformations in Europe, 1500-1750

Question 1

European Renaissance

Answer 1

A period of intense artistic and intellectual activity, said to be a “rebirth” of Greco-Roman culture. Usually divided into an Italian Renaissance, from roughly the mid-fourteenth to mid-fifteenth century, and a Norther (trans-Alphine) Renaissance, from roughly the early fifteenth to early seventeenth century.

Question 2

Papacy

Answer 2

The central administration of the Roman Catholic Church, of which the pope is the head.

Question 3

Indulgence

Answer 3

The forgiveness of the punishment due for past sins, granted by the Catholic Church authorities as a reward for a pious act. Martin Luther’s protest against the sale of indulgences is often seen as touching off the Protestant Reformation.

Question 4

Protestant Reformation

Answer 4

Religious reform movement within the Latin Christian Church beginning in 1519. It resulted in the “protesters” forming several new Christian denominations, including the Lutheran and Reformed Churches and the Church of England.

Question 5

Catholic Reformation

Answer 5

Religious reform movement within the Latin Christian Church, begun in response to the Protestant Reformation. It clarified Catholic theology and reformed clerical training and discipline.

Question 6

Witch Hunt

Answer 6

The pursuit of people suspected of witchcraft, especially in northern Europe in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Question 7

Scientific Revolution

Answer 7

The intellectual movement in Europe, initially associated with planetary motion and other aspects of physics, that by the seventeenth century had laid the groundwork for mother science.

Question 8

Enlightenment

Answer 8

A philosophical movement in eighteenth century Europe that fostered the belief that one could reform society by discovering rational laws that governed social behavior and were just as scientific as the laws of physics.

Question 9

Bourgeoisie

Answer 9

In early modern Europe, the class of well-off town dwellers whose wealth came from manufacturing, finance, commerce, and allied professions.

Question 10

Joint-Stock Company

Answer 10

A business, often backed by a government charter, that sold shares to individuals to raise money for its trading enterprises and to spread the risks (and profits) among many investors.

Question 11

Stock Exchange

Answer 11

A place where shares in a company or business enterprise are bought and sold.

Question 12

Gentry

Answer 12

The class of landholding families in England below the aristocracy.

Question 13

Little Ice Age

Answer 13

A century-long period of cool climate that began in the 1590’s. Its ill effects on agriculture in northern Europe were notable.

Question 14

Deforestation

Answer 14

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

Question 15

Holy Roman Empire

Answer 15

Loose federation of mostly German states and principalities, headed by an emperor elected by the princes. It lasted from 962- 1806

Question 16

Habsburg

Answer 16

A powerful European family that provided many Holy Roman Emperors, founded the Austrian (later Austro-Hungarian) Empire, and ruled sixteenth- and seventeenth- century Spain.

Question 17

English Civil War

Answer 17

(1642-1649) A conflict over royal versus parliamentary rights, caused by King Charles I’s arrest of his parliamentary critics and ending with his execution. Its outcome checked the growth of royal absolutism and, with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the English Bill of Rights of 1689, ensured that England would be a constitutional monarchy.

Question 18

Versailles

Answer 18

The huge palace built for French king Louis XVI south of Paris. The palace symbolized both French power and the triumph of royal authority over the French nobility.

Question 19

Balance of Power

Answer 19

The policy in international relations by which, beginning in the eighteenth century, the major European states acted together to prevent any one of them from becoming too powerful.