AP European History Unit 1

Compass

Navigation instrument determining location based on magnetic forces, one of the most important tools to enable European exploration.

Dutch East India Company

Trading company founded to control the state’s trade in the Indian Ocean and assist the Dutch war for independence of Spain, established a spice monopoly over the East Indies.

Enclosure Movement

A push to take common/public land and make it privately owned, with some kind of barrier enclosing it usually, argued to improve agriculture and increasing land value

Humanism

Puts most importance on humans and the potential value and goodness of humans, human needs, and rational ways of solving problems. Individualism.

Mercantilism

Maximize exports and minimize imports, maximize accumulation of natural resources, and to increase state supply of gold and silver.

Peace of Augsburg

Treaty between Charles V, HRE, and Schmalkaldic League. Gave Lutherans equal rights with Catholics in Germany, and established Lutheranism as a valid division of Christianity

Printing Press

Made by Johannes, Gutenberg, the printing press allowed for cheaper paper, access to knowledge, and a higher literacy rate.

Renaissance

Transition from the Middle Ages to modern times, a period of great evolution in art, science, education, philosophy, and there was overall intellectual and cultural growth. Causes include being in the heart of Rome, economic wellness from trade allowing patronage and sponsorship of art, the church wanting grand art, the printing press, and more. 

Seven Years War

A war involving most major European powers, arguably a world war because many of these big powers had hold across the globe and some fighting occurred there as well, a result of Austria trying to take back Silesia after the Austrian War of Succession. In the end the result was changing of borders and land claims.

Vernacular

Language of the common people, usually different than the language used by writers or official writings, but eventually became used in writings to be more accessible

Petrarch

Initiated the Italian Renaissance and founded Ren. humanism after finding Cicero’s letters, early humanist, poet

Niccolo Machiavelli

Wrote The Prince, “The end justifies the means”, challenged traditional politics and important in Italian Renaissance

Michaelangelo

Artist (sculptor, painter, architect, etc.), of the High Ren., anatomical art, huge impact on art of the time, painted the Sistine Chapel frescoes

Desidrius Erasmus

Dutch, northern Renaissance scholar, first editor of the New Testament, promoted humanism and was very important to Renaissance, also against indulgences

Ferdinand and Isabella

Two Spanish monarchs come together in marriage. They are known for funding Columbus’s trip to the New World and also expelling Jews from Spain, creating a Catholic Nation. Married to combine power and strengthen Spain.

Fall of Roman Empire

There were several factors such as a bad economy, old infrastructure that couldn’t be maintained, the splitting of the empire (West/East), couldn’t maintain territory, and short lasting rulers.

Strength of Catholic Church

The Catholic Church began to spread and become well established in Renaissance culture. With the commissioning for Churches, especially Cathedrals, many were made. Artwork and depiction of Jesus and Mary were also created. Life also majorly revolved around Christian holidays and practices.

Crusades

Christians, wanted to take over the land that their religion came from, because Muslims were slowly expanding their territory and their religion in the Middle East. Crusades in the Middle East were to reclaim the Holy Land.

Reintroduction of classic Greek & Roman texts

Reintroduction of these texts led to an uprising in fascination with them, studying, employing their beliefs into life, in beliefs like humanism. They influenced artists and secular life, and were a big part of the Renaissance

Getting new technology and innovation from trade

Aristocrats were able to utilize their wealth to fund trade to the Middle East. Due to this, they were able to find ancient texts which developed into new technology. Similarly, ship technology also arose and these nautical devices were also made. 

Petrarch and Humanism

Father of humanism, Petrarch's work had christian and classical in it, led to uncovering of Greek and Roman works and studies, and it was increased by Greek scholars fleeing to Italy. Many became critical of tradition from then on,

Machiavelli’s The Prince and secular political institutions

Machiavelli believed that Italian unity was of utmost importance, and any means to achieve it was justified.

Medici family, trade, patronage of art

A family that created new banking systems and made Florence a cultural hotspot, as well as holding major power in Florence in the 15th century, and were major patrons to Renaissance artists.

The printing press

Made by Johannes, Gutenberg, the printing press allowed for cheaper paper, access to knowledge, and a higher literacy rate.

Characteristics of Renaissance art

• perspective

• realism

• humanism

Spread of the Low Countries

The countries were Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. The scene of independent trade centers and revival of Europe, culture was influenced by the Italian Renaissance. Known by that because of the sea level

Age of Exploration

Sponsorship from “New monarchs” New monarchs sponsored exploration in hopes of expanding their empire in land and trade

Navigational tools: Compass, quadrant, astrolabe

Compass: An instrument using earth's magnetic field to show direction. Quadrant - Measures altitude of heavenly bodies and latitude. Astrolabe - instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of the stars. They were able to sail beyond the Mediterranean with these. 

Motivations for exploration

More profit, conversion to christianity, expansion of empire (God, Gold, Glory)

Transatlantic trade routes and the Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange exchanged animals, plants, technology, diseases, and people across continents, popular one's included tobacco and sugar. The Transatlantic routes were taken by traders, notably slave traders. Europe -> Africa -> Americas

Slaving system and Middle Passage

Slaves became popular because it was thought to be more humane as they were otherwise killed, and there was even more demand for slaves after the Black Death killed many laborers. Slaves were of many nationalities and races. Enslavement of natives after the discovery of the Americas from Columbus was cruel and led to the death of many native people, with some eventual backlash from religious figures over the cruelty of it.

Mercantilism

Maximize exports and minimize imports, maximize accumulation of natural resources, and to increase state supply of gold and silver.

Joint-stock companies

They arose in medieval Europe for  merchants to pool their resources and damage wouldn’t be as bad, and became more popular in 16th century with colonialism and exploration

Commercial Revolution

Economic reform of Europe around a new system of trade and capitalism. This followed development of the European economy based on trade

Tulipmania

Period in the Dutch Golden Age where prices for tulip bulbs reached incredibly high and were extremely valuable, driven by speculation. Ended with a bad drop

New banking practices

With more trade and capitalistic economic behaviors, there were new public and private banks, paper notes. The capital lent to the church, government, nobles, and expected interest, with interest becoming a feature of capitalism

Enclosure Movement

a push to take common/public land and make it privately owned, with some kind of barrier enclosing it usually, to improve agriculture and land value

Medieval social structures versus a growing commercial capitalism

With more wealth but social structures mostly looking like the poor and the very wealthy, a new merchant class arose, who were in between

New wealth due to trade

New wealth for merchants in Italy arose, especially with its geographic advantages, which was the start of the rise of the Renaissance

England : Henry VIII, Elizabeth I

Henry VII needed to produce an heir for England. After two marriages, one with Anne Boleyn, the Catherine of Aragon, he managed to produce and heir. He made himself head of the Anglican church, which put him in control of the religion. 

Later, Elizabeth I became the ruler of England.  Mary of Scots wants her throne but Elizabet becomes famous for killing to defend her throne. She becomes excommunicated, but kills Mary of Scots.

England : Anglican Church

Henry’s marriage to Queen Anne could produce and heir. Pope Clement VII would not annul his marriage because he was afraid it would offend Charles V at the time. Henry then decided to reestablish the church and create the Anglican Church which applied to all of England. The Church does not recognize the pope to be the head of the church.

Spain : Reconquista and Inquisition

In the Reconquista, Spanish Christians want to reclaim land from Muslims in North Africa. In the Inquisition, a body of people, they wanted to extract heretics and remove Muslims and Jews from the country. 

Central Europe : Charles V

Is elected to be the new HRE. During the Reformation, he used military force for Protestants to convert back. But he retreats and allows either Lutheranism or Christianity.

Peace of Augsburg

Treaty between Charles V, HRE, and Schmalkaldic League. Gave Lutherans equal rights with Catholics in Germany, and established Lutheranism as a valid division of Christianity