Unit 1

Question 1

What is a Renaissance?

Answer 1

Renaissances are “revivals” and the European Renaissance was a “revival of Cicero”.

Question 2

What are the Humanities?

Answer 2

Disciplines that separate us from animals. Ex: art, music, theatre, history.

Question 3

Who is Giovanni Pico della Mirandola? Why is he condemned by the Catholic Church?

Answer 3

Italian philosopher that wanted to combine ideas from Ancient Western civilizations. Wrote “Oration on the Dignity of man”, considered manifesto of the Renaissance. 900 theses on religion to philosophy to magic. He was condemned because the Catholic church wanted total control on faith/beliefs.

Question 4

What is hidden in the painting “The Creation of Adam” and why is it significant?

Answer 4

Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” illustrates the Anticipation of God’s creation of Adam. There is a brain hidden in God’s “cloak”, likely symbolizing the endowment of Adam with knowledge of good and evil.

Question 5

Where did the Renaissance begin and why there?

Answer 5

The Renaissance began in Italy, which was the gateway to trade in Europe.

Question 6

Why would the Pope seek to create conflict between the Italian City-States?

Answer 6

The Pope didn’t want any City-State to gain enough power to influence what he had power over. The Florentine Republic becomes more valid through Cosimo de Medici, who created the Peace of Lodi due to the fear of Ottomans in the east.

Question 7

What does Gutenberg Invent? Why is it significant?

Answer 7

Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press. It’s significant because it allowed humans to get access to the Bible and scientific works, which causes the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.

Question 8

What is revolutionary about Da Vinci’s paintings?

Answer 8

His usage of the Golden Ratio, a concept of mathematical symmetry.

Question 9

How does the Italian Economy change and why?

Answer 9

Began embracing earthly pleasures and conspicuous consumption, or consumption that you can see, as opposed to hiding it or avoiding showing it, which was the life in Middle Ages, because of self-sufficiency, plague, and the development of a middle-class. Further, political infighting occurs and allows the middle class to be left alone to earn money.

Question 10

What eastern threat was defeated at the Battle of Malta? Why is this significant?

Answer 10

The Ottoman Empire was defeated in Malta. This is important because the European Powers no longer saw threats from the east as a valid worry.

Question 11

What religious conflict begins on the Iberian Peninsula?

Answer 11

The crusades began in the Iberian Peninsula to drive out the Muslim population or the Almohads/part of the Ottoman Empire. It was started by the Pope.

Question 12

What is the Sale of indulgences and what ramifications resulted from it?

Answer 12

The Sale of Indulgences was the “pre-buying” of forgiveness for sins. It was started because of the Crusades/War and the ramifications in the afterlife. This practice was condemned by Martin Luther, who believed that it was a corrupt practice. He decides to attack church doctrine. The Reformation was furthered by Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg cathedral. One of the major points was that the Bible should be translated into English so that non-clergy could read it.

Question 13

What causes the Reformation in England?

Answer 13

The Reformation in England came from Henry VIII desiring a male heir, thanks to primogeniture. He petitions for Divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and while the Pope turns him down, Parliament allows them to separate from the Catholic Church, thus creating the Church of England.

Question 14

Explain the Estates System.

Answer 14

The Estates System is France’s division of clergy (first estate), aristocracy (second estate), and the peasantry (third estate). This doesn’t mean that they all have “equal” representation, as the first and second estates often “teamed up”.

Question 15

What led to the Golden Age of England?

Answer 15

The Golden Age of England was begun by the defeat of Philip II of Spain’s armada as it attempted to invade England, and it was stopped by a storm, or a “Protestant Wind”.

Question 16

What was the status of people in Eastern Europe during the 16th and 17th century?

Answer 16

Most peasants in Eastern Europe were serfs, which meant that they had to pay for their mill use, tools, etc. Further, they work for free, to the benefit of their landlords. In short, they were exploited by landowners/landlords. They additionally have an excessively high mortality rate, caused by a lack of real medicine.

Question 17

What was seen as a sign or of status to most European peasantry?

Answer 17

Education, birth, title, office, etc. They did not see wealth as a sign of status.

Question 18

What were the primary power structures of Europe?

Answer 18

Religious Authority, which involves the powers of the papacy/church. Additionally, Political Authority is split into two models: Absolutism, as seen in France, and Shared Power, as seen in England and which involves kings sharing power with parliament.

Question 19

What causes the Thirty Years War and what Treaty comes into existence to alleviate the possibility of future conflict?

Answer 19

The Thirty Years’ War is begun because of religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Germany’s Holy Roman Empire (A conglomeration of states that are neither Roman, nor Holy). Following this, Ferdinand II attempted to eradicate Protestants, and overall, 1/5 of Germans are killed. British and French will support both sides, and Poland will enter just before the Ottoman Empire joins the battle. Overall, all the external factors want to see Germany brought down. 7 million people die, and the Treaty of Westphalia is born in 1948, creating diplomatic ties and a balance of power.

Question 20

What is Mercantilism?

Answer 20

Expansion of a country via colonization for the sake of the benefit provided by the colonies. This ownership of colonies means that the colonies cannot trade with any other colony. The goal of this is to increase exports and minimize imports where possible.

Question 21

What groups are targeted with accusations of Witchcraft and why?

Answer 21

Women, because of the belief that women are weaker than men, as “evidenced” by Eve’s betrayal of God in the garden of Eden. Typically, these accusations were made against single or older women, and were often used to discredit independent women, so as children grow up, they don’t think they can be independent, they’re further used as scapegoats for tragic events, being blamed for things they likely didn’t have any explanation for.

Question 22

What is the Enlightenment?

Answer 22

The 17th and 18th centuries, and the focus on science, progress, and the human condition. It involved reform of political institutions across Europe.

Question 23

What is Deism and how is connected with Enlightenment belief?

Answer 23

Deism as a belief was largely concerned with rejecting the belief that God intervenes in the universe post-creation. It focuses on reason and as Jesus as a moral teacher.

Question 24

What causes the French and Indian War? What are some of its lasting ramifications?

Answer 24

The French and Indian War is a global conflict that involves England and was the American side of that conflict between France and England. It forced the British to defend the colonies against the French. It set the stage for the American Revolution, as salutary neglect had made the colonies feel disconnected from their countries and led to the rise of founders like George Washington.

Question 25

What is Salutary Neglect and what impact does this have on the American Colonies?

Answer 25

American legislatures had functioned for quite some time “on their own” and had effectively become independent, save the exportation of goods. England chose to attempt control of the colonies once again, and due to taxes and other issues, Americans decided they could not be controlled.

Question 26

What elements of control did the British utilize against the colonists? What mistakes did they make?

Answer 26

The control used against the colonies involved heavy taxation in order to both control and pay back their debt from the French and Indian War. They used search warrants to confiscate goods and prosecuted Americans in Military Courts. All of this led to Americans to belief their rights had been violated as British Citizens.

Question 27

What is the true story of the Boston Massacre?

Answer 27

It was a clash between Bostonians and British Soldiers. Both groups were at fault, but ultimately, it led to five Bostonians being killed and the distribution of a propagandized version of events.

Question 28

What is the major significance of the Battle of Saratoga?

Answer 28

The Battle of Saratoga was the first major victory in the Revolutionary War and signals to the French that they could win.

Question 29

What significant effect did the Revolutionary War have on France?

Answer 29

The Revolutionary War signaled to the Third Estate that Revolution in France was possible. It exposed French officers to the leaders and ideas of the American People.

Question 30

Who were the Sans-culottes?

Answer 30

Members of the Third Estate banded together to overthrow/protest the First and Second Estates’ treatment of them. Translates to “without knee-pants”. The Sans-Culottes were the first to properly have “class consciousness”.

Question 31

Why did the National Assembly meet on a Tennis Court and what did they desire?

Answer 31

The National Assembly met on the Tennis Court because they were locked out of the Estates General meeting. Their principles are effective: men should be free and equal, religious toleration, and they created a basic constitution that limits power.

Question 32

What was the Bastille and why was it a symbol of oppression?

Answer 32

The Bastille was a symbol of oppression because it was a prison used largely for political prisoners in Paris. On July 14, 1789, commoners broke into the Bastille and liberated it. Now it is known as Bastille Day. This is the first instance of people’s role in the Revolution.

Question 33

What facilitates the women’s march on Versailles?

Answer 33

The price of bread skyrocketed and caused starvation. This caused 7000 women to march on Versailles, bringing the king back to Paris. He agreed to a constitutional monarchy.

Question 34

Why are Louis XVI and Mary Antoinette executed?

Answer 34

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were accused of being against the revolution after they tried to escape. They were captured in Varennes, and they are seen as having too much money while their people were starving.

Question 35

What was the Reign of Terror?

Answer 35

It was a wave of violence that involved 300,000 people being arrested with 40,000 being executed. It was perpetrated by the Committee on Public Safety, with Robespierre at the helm. It was triggered by the pro-royalist rebellion in West France and ended with Robespierre’s suicide while facing his own arrest.

Question 36

Who is Napoleon?

Answer 36

Ruler following the Reign of Terror. He’s a military man and was an artillery officer. He’s a celebrated military leader brought in to take power in France and he creates the fairest tax code France had ever seen. Following his crowning as Emperor (by himself) he conquered most of Europe in a 7-year timespan, attempting to end absolutism by instituting revolution in the countries he’d conquered. He further installed members of his family as rulers in these countries and exploited them for France’s benefit.

Question 37

What was the Napoleonic Code?

Answer 37

A system of laws that include equality of all male citizens, universal male suffrage, and affirmation of property rights and religious liberty. He invited exiled nobles to return to France and guaranteed religious freedom. It further limited freedom of speech and the press, while also denying women any rights.

Question 38

Who crowned Napoleon and why?

Answer 38

Napoleon was crowned by himself because the Pope typically did this, but he, in placing the crown on his own head showed that he would never bow to the Church but would rule in his own right as his own person.

Question 39

What was the Continental System and what were its ramifications?

Answer 39

The Continental System was Napoleon’s attempt to weaken England via economic pressure. He forces countries he trades with to agree not to trade with England. While the exclusivity is nice for France, it frustrates and turns the bourgeoisie against him, as England has the second largest trading market in Europe at this point.

Question 40

What military defeats lead to the downfall of Napoleon?

Answer 40

Following his defeat/retreat from Russia, the rest of Europe comes together, and Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Leipzig, exiling him to the island of Elba. He’s rescued from Elba and has an army waiting for him. He is defeated again at Waterloo and is finally exiled to St. Helena, dying there.