Unit 6: Medieval-Renaissance Europe Flashcards
1
Q
Feudalism Definition
A
a political, military, and social system based on landownership in which workers do agricultural labor for the landowner in exchange for a portion of their crops and the landowner provides military protection
2
Q
Holy Roman Empire Definition
A
an empire that originated in Germany under Charlemagne (800 CE) and extended loosely throughout Western Europe into France, named as a reference to the past power of the Roman Empire and the unifying force of the Catholic Church
3
Q
Knight Definition
A
an appointed soldier on horseback who served a lord on a manor during the Middle Ages; a warrior of noble birth who pledged loyalty to their lord
4
Q
Low Countries Definition
A
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in coastal northwestern Europe
5
Q
Manorialism Definition
A
a political system in which peasant farmers depended on the land and protection of a lord (manorial system); an economic system that describes how peasants create and produce products that keep manors self-sufficient
6
Q
Medieval Definition
A
relating to the Middle Ages in Europe
7
Q
Middle Ages Definition
A
a period from the fifth to fifteenth centuries in Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Renaissance; a period in European history that lasted from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century to the Renaissance, or the voyages of Christopher Columbus, in the fifteenth century
8
Q
Postclassical Definition
A
period of time in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, from about 500 CE to 1500 CE
9
Q
Roman Empire Definition
A
the large centralized government controlled by an emperor in Rome that included the Mediterranean region, northern Africa, and Western Asia
10
Q
Serf Definition
A
a peasant farmworker under the feudal system in Europe
11
Q
Three-field System Definition
A
a crop rotation cycle in which fields are planted with different crops every year for a period of three years and one of those years is left fallow (without planting)
12
Q
Vassal Definition
A
an individual who was appointed to serve a lord as a soldier during the Middle Ages; a medieval landowner who swears loyalty in exchange for a fief
13
Q
Vikings Definition
A
northern European seafaring people who raided, traded, and traveled throughout different parts of Europe from the eighth to the eleventh centuries
14
Q
Fief Definition
A
a piece of property designated by a lord or vassal for a serf to use to support themselves in exchange for service or obligation to the lord or vassal; an estate owned by a lord
15
Q
Lord Definition
A
a feudal superior, especially the proprietor of a manor house
16
Q
Abbey Definition
A
similar to a monastery; a building where monks, nuns, or other religious devotees reside
17
Q
Commendation Definition
A
an act of praise or promotion
18
Q
Excommunicate Definition
A
to exclude from the Church and Church-associated activities
19
Q
Fealty Definition
A
the serfs’ or vassals’ rent or payment due to the lord in a feudal system
20
Q
Homage Definition
A
a formal demonstration of devotion and allegiance
21
Q
Truce of God Definition
A
a medieval Church declaration of peace on designated days, universally banning warfare among participating European territories
22
Q
Anti-semitism Definition
A
prejudice against Jewish people
23
Q
Bubonic Plague Definition
A
referred to as the Black Death during the Middle Ages; a deadly pandemic of a bacteria in the 1300s that caused the population of Europe to drop by 30–60 percent
24
Q
City-state Definition
A
an independently ruled city that acts as the political, social, and economic center of the surrounding territory
25
Crusades Definition
religious wars during the Middle Ages sanctioned by the Catholic Church to expand Christianity into the Holy Lands; a series of military and religious movements by European Christians seeking to conquer Muslim lands associated with the life of Jesus, expand Christianity, and suppress heresy in Europe
26
Knighthood Definition
a title of honor given by a monarch to a soldier based on loyalty and service to his country
27
Monastery Definition
a building where monks reside, practice, and teach religious doctrine
28
Page Definition
the lowest rank toward knighthood
29
Renaissance Definition
the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century European era focused on renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman ideals; an era in European history from 1340 to 1620 in which people began to show a greater interest in the arts and sciences
30
Squire Definition
a rank higher than page and working toward knighthood
31
Clergy Definition
the individuals who are ordained, or authorized, by a church to perform particular functions
32
Devolve Definition
referring to a power system in which authority is delegated
33
Great Schism of 1054 Definition
a split in the Christian church, forming the Western church and the Eastern church; also called the East-West Schism by historians
34
Iconography Definition
the power of images, visuals, and pictures
35
Nationalism Definition
an intense pride in one’s nation
36
Papacy Definition
relating to the authority and influence of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope
37
Papal States Definition
a series of territories on the Italian peninsula that were under the direct rule of the pope for nearly 1,000 years until they became part of the new nation of Italy in 1870
38
Centralization Definition
the concentration of power under one major government
39
Constitutional Monarchy Definition
a system of government that has a monarch who is mainly a figurehead of the state and a legislative body (such as a parliament) that is in charge of the government
40
Nation-state Definition
an autonomous, self-governing entity that exerts political power inside and beyond its territorial borders
41
Parliament Definition
a legislative body of government
42
Precedent Definition
past court rulings that guide future court proceedings
43
Confederation Definition
a group or collection of political units that are loosely aligned
44
Duchy Definition
a medieval political unit ruled by a duke or duchess
45
Fiefdom Definition
the land granted by a powerful noble or member of the ruling class to a lower member of the nobility in exchange for service and loyalty
46
Permafrost Definition
a layer of land that is permanently frozen
47
Tribute Definition
a payment to a leader in the form of labor, goods, or money
48
Centralized Definition
power concentrated in one main place or individual
49
Decentralized Definition
power distributed to many places or individuals
50
Feudal Monarch Definition
a powerful landholding lord who governs a fief
51
Illuminated Manuscript Definition
a book created by hand before the invention of the movable type printing press in Europe; the name comes from the practice of illustrating these books in elaborate ways
52
Manor Definition
the home of the lord, surrounding buildings, and lands
53
Peasants Definition
the lowest class of society in a feudal system
54
Tithe Definition
a 10 percent tax paid by peasants to lords; a tax where the Church required Christians to pay an amount equal to one-tenth of their income
55
Benedictine Rule Definition
a series of rules developed by Benedict to regulate monastic life including emphasis on obedience, poverty, and chastity and to set clear divisions of the day into periods of worship, work, and study
56
Canon Law Definition
a body of laws created by a specific church
57
Convent Definition
a building or complex of buildings that served as a home, religious center, and workplace for nuns
58
Friar Definition
a monastic who traveled across wide areas to convert nonbelievers to Christianity during the Middle Ages rather than remain confined within a monastery
59
Heresy Definition
the beliefs or opinions contrary to conventional doctrine
60
Interdict Definition
the practice by the Roman Catholic Church for excommunicating an entire region or kingdom because local leaders refuse to follow Church law
61
Papal Supremacy Definition
the claim made by popes during the Middle Ages that they had ultimate authority over all secular rulers because they were “God’s representative on Earth”
62
Simony Definition
the selling of church office positions
63
Abbess Definition
a woman who headed a convent of nuns
64
Aristocracy Definition
government in which political power rests with a group of small, privileged elites
65
Desolate Definition
empty and bare
66
Destitute Definition
not having the basic needs of life
67
Monastic Definition
relating to monasteries
68
Monk Definition
a member of a religious organization of men living a contemplative and restrictive lifestyle
69
Noble Definition
a member of aristocracy
70
Nun Definition
a member of a religious organization of women living a contemplative and restrictive lifestyle
71
Tenet Definition
principle of a group or organization
72
Chivalry Definition
informal code of conduct for medieval knights
73
Colonialism Definition
when a country takes control of another country by sending settlers to the area
74
Franks Definition
a Germanic tribe living in Gaul that conquered part of Roman Empire
75
Shi’ite Definition
a division of Islam that believes the leader of the faith must be a descendant of the prophet Muhammad
76
Sunni Definition
a division of Islam that believes the leader of the faith should be selected by an elite group of followers and does not have to be a member of the prophet Muhammad’s family
77
Atone Definition
to make up for something bad or for one’s sins
78
Chronology Definition
an arrangement of events or items in the order they happened
79
Indulgence Definition
the Roman Catholic practice of absolving someone of their sin based on something they did while alive; the Roman Catholic Church at times offered indulgences as things that could be purchased or gained through holy acts
80
Pilgrimage Definition
a journey to a distant area often made by people in searching for greater meaning in their lives
81
Roman Catholic Church Definition
the religious institution that dominated Europe beginning approximately in the sixth century; prior to 1517, it was the official religion in most European states
82
Sequencing Definition
the practice of putting items in order to make meaning of them; historians usually apply sequencing to an order of events
83
Carolingian Dynasty Definition
the descendants of Charles Martel who ruled as kings of the Frankish realm
84
Germanic Tribes Definition
the peoples that lived in what is now called Eastern Europe and Scandinavia
85
Inculturation Definition
the missionary practice of adapting Christian beliefs and teachings by blending them with local culture
86
Merovingian Dynasty
the descendants of Merovech who ruled as kings of the Frankish realm
87
Oath of Fealty Definition
the act of pledging loyalty to one’s lord in a formal, public ceremony
88
Paupers Definition
a term sometimes used to describe poor people or the lower class in medieval society; comes from Latin
89
Potents Definition
a term sometimes used to describe powerful people or the upper class in medieval society; comes from Latin
90
Primogeniture Definition
the custom or law of inheritance by the oldest son
91
Salic Law Definition
the civil code compiled by the Frankish king Clovis in the fifth century
92
Clerical Celibacy Definition
the requirement that members of the clergy be unmarried
93
Investiture Definition
a ceremony that raises someone to a higher rank
94
Simony Definition
the buying and selling of positions in the church; the Roman Catholic practice of selling religious services and occasionally appointments to office
95
Bubonic Plague Definition
a deadly contagion that originated in China and is transmitted to humans by lice and fleas
96
Guild Definitionn
an organization formed by craftsmen in the Middle Ages that regulated the practice of their craft in a town or region
97
City-state Definition
a political system in which the leaders of the city can make all decisions for the people within their territory and are not overruled by a larger centralized government
98
Classical Period Definition
the two-hundred-year period from 480 BCE to 323 BCE in ancient Greece that saw the rise of Athenian democracy, the Peloponnesian Wars, and significant cultural advancements
99
Inquisition Definition
a Church court whose mission was to investigate, arrest, and prosecute people accused of heresy
100
Dark Ages Definition
an outdated term formerly used by historians to refer to the period after the fall of Rome when the arts and sciences saw little growth
101
Humanism Definition
a devotion to the study of the disciplines of the humanities; an intellectual movement during the Renaissance that focused on education and the classics
102
Medici Family Definition
a Florentine family who used their wealth acquired from banking and trading to become powerful in Italian politics and culture during the Renaissance
103
Patron Definition
a person of wealth and influence who offers aids to an artist or writer
104
Christian Humanism Definition
the application of individualism, human dignity, and happiness to the teachings of Jesus Christ
105
Folly Definition
Foolishness
106
Fresco Definition
a painting done in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling
107
Humanities Definition
subjects such as history and poetry that were taught in ancient Greek and Roman schools; an academic area that studies grammar, history, poetry, and literature
108
Individualism Definition
a social principle emphasizing independence and self-reliance
109
Machiavellian Definition
describing the use of deceitful and unscrupulous practices in politics
110
Naturalism Definition
a concept that depicts objects as they appear realistically in nature
111
Punic Wars Definition
a series of wars fought between Rome and Carthage during the third century BCE
112
Rhetoric Definition
persuasive language used in speech or writing
113
Utopian Definition
describing something that is idealistic or perfect
114
Baptistery Definition
a chapel used for baptisms
115
Classical Definition
relating to ancient Greek and Roman literature, art, and culture
116
Council of Trent Definition
a group of Catholic leaders who met during the mid-1500s in response to Protestant challenges and to direct the future of the Roman Catholic Church
117
Counter-Reformation (Catholic Reformation) Definition
the Roman Catholic Church’s efforts during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to reform itself in order to slow the gains made by Protestantism in Europe
118
Engraving Definition
a method of making prints from metal plates
119
Flanders Definition
a region that is now part of northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands
120
Flemish Definition
describing a person or thing from the region of Flanders
121
Florentine Definition
describing a person or thing from the Italian city of Florence
122
Form Definition
an artistic element that gives geometric shapes a three-dimensional appearance through the use of shading
123
High Renaissance (Roman Renaissance) Definition
the time period from approximately 1490 to 1530 that resulted in the production of the most exceptional and best-known works of art, sculpture, and architecture in Rome and other Italian cities
124
Madonna Definition
a portrait of the Virgin Mary
125
Patronage Definition
financial support and encouragement given by an organization or individual
126
Perspective Definition
an artistic element that gives objects a three-dimensional appearance through the use of length, width, and height
127
Protestant Reformation Definition
the sixteenth-century religious reform movement in Europe challenging the authority and doctrine of the Catholic Church
128
Proto-Renaissance Definition
the time period in Italy during the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries that first saw the reemergence of classical art styles
129
Realism Definition
the artistic movement that depicts the subject matter truthfully without added embellishments
130
Sfumato Definition
a painting technique in which an artist softens the lines and blends different paints to create blurred areas in a painting
131
Vatican Definition
the Italian city-state under the direct control of the pope
132
Venerate Definition
to honor a religious figure with dedication and prayer
133
Astrolabe Definition
an instrument used to measure latitudes at sea
134
Caravel Definition
a relatively light, fast-moving ship designed by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, which helped make distant global exploration possible
135
Geocentric Theory Definition
a theory that placed the Earth at the center of the universe
136
Heliocentric Theory Definition
a theory that placed the sun at the center of the universe
137
Middleman Definition
a person who buys goods from a producer and sells them at higher prices to consumers
138
Movable Type Definition
a single small metal block that represented each letter of the alphabet; these could be arranged and rearranged within a frame to print pages in a book
139
Paragone Definition
the Renaissance debate that asked whether painting or sculpture was the superior form of art
140
Printing Press Definition
a machine invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 that was used to print pages set in movable type
141
Scholasticism Definition
a school of thought in medieval Europe that used logic and reason to support Christian beliefs
142
Vernacular Definition
the language or dialect spoken by the people who live in a specific country or region
143
Doctrine Definition
a set of beliefs taught by a specific church or religion
144
Excommunication Definition
the complete exclusion from the Roman Catholic Church and the denial of sacraments for refusing to obey Church law
145
Heretic Definition
a person who holds beliefs contrary to the conventional doctrine of the culture's dominant religion
146
Holy Roman Empire Definition
a collection of medieval principalities, mostly in present-day Germany and Italy, loosely organized in an attempt to succeed the Western Roman Empire
147
Humanist Definition
an individual who studies the humanities
148
Mass Definition
a Catholic religious service involving the celebration of Holy Communion
149
Pope Definition
the head of the Roman Catholic Church who also serves as bishop of Rome
150
Purgatory Definition
in the Catholic religion, a place of suffering that purified the soul before it could enter heaven
151
Sacraments Definition
the Christian rites recognized for their importance, including baptism, confession, communion, confirmation, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick
152
Literacy Definition
the ability to read
153
Print Culture Definition
the printed items, based primarily in text but also with images, that help a group of people communicate and share ideas
154
Scientific Revolution Definition
the period of time in European early modern history that saw major developments in chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, physics, and biology (1400 CE to 1690 CE)
155
Enlightenment Definition
an intellectual movement that took place from 1600 to 1800 that focused on the individual rather than on tradition
156
95 Theses Definition
a document in which Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church’s role as mediator between the people and God
157
Anabaptist Definition
a person who believed that the sacrament of baptism should take place in adulthood rather than in infancy
158
Anglican Church (The Church of England) Definition
the established church in Britain, founded by Henry VIII, that incorporates both Catholic and Protestant traditions
159
Calvinism Definition
a branch of Protestantism that emphasized God’s sovereignty and the doctrine of predestination
160
Predestination Definition
the Calvinist belief that God alone determined who would gain salvation
161
Printing Press Definition
a machine invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450 that was used to print pages set in movable type
162
Theocracy Definition
a country ruled by religious leaders
163
Edict of Worms Definition
the royal order issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1521 that declared Martin Luther a heretic and outlaw
164
Eucharist Definition
the Christian rite of consuming blessed bread and wine that are believed to be Christ’s body and blood
165
Index of Forbidden Books Definition
a list of books produced by the Catholic Church that Catholics were forbidden from reading
166
Jesuits Definition
a religious order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola opposed to Reformation
167
Papal Bull Definition
a public decree issued by the head of the Roman Catholic Church
168
Transubstantiation Definition
the change by which the bread and wine of the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ in Catholic religious practice
169
Vernacular Definition
the language or dialect spoken by the people who live in a specific country or region
170
Act of Supremacy Definition
the 1534 order that named the English monarch as head of the Church of England
171
Annul Definition
to declare that a marriage has no legal existence
172
Archbishop of Canterbury Definition
the religious leader of the Church of England
173
Blasphemy Definition
disrespectful, sacrilegious speech or actions against God or the Church
174
Book of Common Prayer Definition
the official service book used by the Church of England
175
Diet of Worms Definition
the German assembly where Martin Luther defended his challenges to the Catholic Church
176
Dissenter Definition
a person who challenges the teachings of an established Church
177
English Reformation Definition
a multistage religious and political movement during the sixteenth century that led to a complete break from the Catholic Church and established Protestantism as the official religion in England
178
Habsburg Dynasty Definition
royal dynasty that controlled most of Central Europe, Italy, and Spain during the sixteenth century
179
Huguenot Definition
a French follower of Calvinism
180
Lutheranism Definition
one of the largest branches of Protestantism that identifies with the teachings of Jesus Christ and was founded by Martin Luther
181
Marian Reformation Definition
the time between 1553 and 1558 in England when Mary I tried to restore Catholicism as the official state religion
182
Puritan Definition
an English follower of Calvinism
183
Recant Definition
to publicly deny a belief or opinion
184
Regent Definition
a person appointed to rule in place of a monarch
185
Sect Definition
a religious, political, or cultural subgroup
186
Theologian Definition
an expert in the study of religion
187
Tudor Dynasty Definition
royal dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603
188
Catholic League Definition
the military alliance between the Catholic Habsburg dynasties in Austria and Spain that fought against Protestants in Central Europe during the Thirty Years’ War
189
Defenestration Definition
the act of throwing someone out of a window
190
Jesuit Definition
a member of the Society of Jesus, who were part of a worldwide crusade to defend and spread Catholicism during the Catholic Reformation
191
Laypeople Definition
members of a church who are not ordained as religious priests or ministers
192
Peace of Augsburg Definition
the 1555 compromise in which the Holy Roman Emperor allowed German princes to choose whether their states would be Lutheran or remain Catholic
193
Peace of Westphalia Definition
the 1648 peace treaty that ended the Thirty Years’ War
194
Protestant Union Definition
a military alliance between Lutheran and Calvinist forces who fought against the Catholic Habsburg dynasties during the Thirty Years’ War
195
Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) Definition
a Catholic Church council that met from 1962 to 1965 in order to update and reform Church doctrine so that it was more aligned to twentieth-century society
196
Temporal Definition
relating to worldly rather than spiritual matters
197
Thirty Years’ War Definition
armed conflict between Protestant and Catholic forces in Central Europe that lasted from 1618 to 1648
198
Ghetto Definition
a separate section of a city where a minority group was historically forced to live
199
Malleus Maleficarum Definition
a 1486 pamphlet that addressed issues associated with witchcraft
200
Peasants’ Revolt Definition
an unsuccessful 1524 to 1525 revolt by German peasant farmers based on economic and religious matters
201
Protestant Work Ethic Definition
a concept emphasizing hard work, frugality, and prosperity as a way to demonstrate salvation in the Christian faith
202
Abdicate Definition
to relinquish monarchical authority
203
Armada Definition
a fleet of warships
204
Canonize Definition
the Catholic Church’s action of formally recognizing a person as a saint
205
Elizabethan Settlement Definition
the policy of religious compromise adopted by Elizabeth I in order to enforce reforms that were acceptable to both English Protestants and Catholics
206
King James Bible Definition
an updated version of the Bible that was translated into English and published in 1611
207
Stuart Dynasty Definition
the royal dynasty that ruled England and Scotland from 1603 to 1714
208
Treatise Definition
a written work formally dealing with a specific subject
209
Scientific Revolution Definition
the period of time in European early modern history that saw major developments in chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, physics, and biology (1500 CE to late 1600 CE)
210
Scientific Method Definition
the process of inquiry where a hypothesis is developed based on observable data, tested, and later refined based on those results
211
Aristotelianism
based on the works of Aristotle, this philosophical movement emphasized reason and logic in the study of the natural world
212
The Enlightenment Definition
an intellectual movement that took place from 1600 to 1800 that focused on the individual rather than on tradition
213
