WH2 Vocab. Unit 2 (Renaissance) Flashcards
ideas
historical categories that express a culture’s own sense of itself and it position in history. They often have little to do with the real historical experience of the period they pretend to explain
City-States
individual regions ruled centrally from a single city
Reconquista
a period of about 700 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula succeeded in retaking the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
Firneze (Florence)
“the center of gravity during the Renaissance”, the center of the Medici family, [add more]
Ponte Vecchio
a patron supported bridge that spans the Arno River and served as a central marketplace
Duomo
a patron (Medici) supported church (by Brunelleschi). It is the largest church in Florence and one of the great symbols of Roman Architecture.
Palaza del Signori or Palazzo Vecchio
Old Palace. a patron supported building celebrated for its defensive posture and beauty.
Santa Croce
a patron supported convent known for creating a warmer experience for Church-goers
Santa Maria Novella
a patron supported convent known for creating a warmer experience for Church-goers
Piazza
large square (open area or plaza)
Aristocracy
highest class. They held control of florence w/wealth, political councils, trade routes, influence… Some did mot work for their money but through inheritance and the passage of land (feudal land=power). Others got power through market economy
Social Mobility
a system where men could work their way into the aristocracy though industry, intelligence, and drive.
also through marriages, partnerships, friendships, alliances
guilds
trade union. They maintained considerable economic, political, and social power. Each guild controlled all of the workers in a specific field, monopoly
Major Guild
Merchant class of the Aristocracy. considerable wealth/influence.
judges/notaries, importers of foreign cloth, wool manufacturers, silk merchants, bankers, FURriers, and doctors and pharmacists
Minor Guilds
artisan and skill workers. Middle class. less influence than major guilds.
Miserabili
lowest order of society; unskilled workers. not enough little/no skill jobs for all of Miserabili, resorted to begging or crime.
republic
a government run by a small body of people on top. Florence spent most of its time as a republic. more open and inclusive the signory
signory
a government run by one leader. less open and inclusive than a republic
House of Medici
powerful clan who took control of Italy though banking trade. Gained entry though votes, ousted competitors, converted to signory
[Add More]
Nicolo Machiavelli
a premier political philosopher of the Renaissance. Secular thinker. Exiled by Medici family and in exile, wrote “the Prince”
The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli’s most famous worker. “a veritable how-to for men seeking political power and control. Examined how to build a successful republic or by what means a person might learn of the governments in ancient Greece and Rome
wool industry
employed one-third of Florence’s residents during 14th and 15th centuries. Held ultimate power and wealth.
Top to bottom: merchants and manufacturers who sold the wool, minor guilds who dyed the wool, miserabilli who washed them.
100 million dollars+ a year
banking industry
another industry as well as force by which economical and political power was gained
Letter of Credit
allowed people to buy something with promise of payment later. Florentines did not need to travel with large bags of cash or possess the means to pay at the moment; mostly on reputation
Bill of Exchange
a letter of credit based on the exchange of currencies. Measured currencies against each other.
Some would switch to a currency wait for a rise in value and switch back to original currency
Endorsement
…of bills of exchange was the process where one would switch to a currency wait for a rise in value and switch back to original currency. Similar to endorsing a check.
Insurance Policies
for cargoes of merchandise; venders or owners would pay the banks fees in case of some destruction to their property
Holding Companies
where each branch of an organization opened under a new partnership between “partner/manager” and “central owner”; added capital and safeguards. Small impact on central owner and manager if went bankrupt with no affect on other branches or central bank.
gold florin
Florence’s single unit of currency in the middle of the 13th century. First European city to move to a single init of currency. Merchants of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East preferred this sound, stable, and fairly universal unit of currency.
Humanism
the philosophy that took hold of literature, education, science, and art during the Early Renaissance.
1) Roman and Greek thinkers should be upheld and studied for their writings; antiquity and paganism
2) man as an individual should be celebrated for his abilities and greatness
[Add More]
Antiquity
the ancient past; especially the MIddle Ages. A big theme of Humanism is appreciating texts of the antiquity
ad-fontes
“to the source”, focusing on the ancient world (Middle Ages).
Studia Humanitatis
new system of education. New curriculum included a well-rounded education that included anything related to humanities
Gioto
first examples of Renaissance painters. His art showcases some remnants of Medieval thinking while displaying modern concepts of perspective and subject. Created art for the Pope. Made great freehand circles.
Masaccio
first examples of Renaissance painters. His art showcases some remnants of Medieval thinking while displaying modern concepts of perspective and subject.
Botticelli
went further in art than Gioto and Masaccio depicting more non-religious art (greek, roman myth), real-life settings, or just celebrating the importance of people through portraiture.
Donatello
went further in art than Gioto and Masaccio depicting more non-religious art (greek, roman myth), real-life settings, or just celebrating the importance of people through portraiture.
Da Vinci
went further in art than Gioto and Masaccio depicting more non-religious art (greek, roman myth), real-life settings, or just celebrating the importance of people through portraiture.
Michelangelo’s David
principle example of transition in sculpture. Perfection of human form (nude), defined muscles, detailed expressions, shadow and depth
Brunelleschi
the creator of the Duomo in Florence. Arguably the most famous architect to emerge from the Renaissance
Patrons
merchants and bankers who sought to further their mark on florence by giving back to the community through the production of great art. Funded artists since “support is most useful when it comes in the form of money”
christendom
the worldwide body or society of Christians. Christendom became especially larger during the High Middle Ages.
Knights
a man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor. Lesser nobles who fight and do not own land. Given land by nobles in exchange for fighting services; also a “vassal”
Peasants/Serfs
an agricultural laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord’s estate. Peasant who is tied to land Owned not by a person but by the land itself; work the manor lands for a lord
Artisans
a worker in a skilled trade. Primarily composed the minor guilds
