Unit 1A Vocab European History

disce aut discede

Latin term that means "learn or leave"

Black Death

A bacterial disease that devastated many areas of the world. It's arrival in Europe in 1348 led to the death of millions and a profound change in society.

Bubonic Plague

a synonym for the Black Death

Constantinople

A city first established by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 300 CE. It was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire.

urban

of or pertaining to cities

rural

of or pertaining to the countryside

flagellants

an extremist Catholic religious movement that believed that physical punishment of the flesh (whipping) could attone for the sins of man. They believed that the plague was a punishment from God.

ghetto

originally is referred to a specific section of a European city where Jews were allowed to reside. It was often walled off from Christian areas.

pogrom

term for periodic violent attacks on the Jewish population. They were especially prominent in Eastern Europe (Russia).

anti-semitism

the hatred of the Jewish population

first-hand

something directly witnessed or experienced by the person relating it.

second-hand

something explained by someone who did not directly witness or experience it.

Florentine

of or pertaining to the city of Florence

Vernacular

any language spoken by the genera population of a region, as opposed to Latin, the language of the Church and education

Siege

A military tactic where an enemy is completely surrounded and starved into submission.

Balkan Peninsula

The vast region of southeastern Europe that includes nations such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Serbia.

antiquity

Of, or pertaining to anything ancient, or to a period of ancient history.

Middle Ages

The European historical era following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and the beginning of the Renaissance (1400's).

Medieval/Dark Ages

A synonym for the Middle Ages.

Transcribe

The action of copying by hand something written.

Literate

The ability to read.

Illiterate

Lacking the ability to read.

Secular

Anything that is not religious in its character or purpose.

Classical

Of, or pertaining to ancient Greece and/or ancient Rome.

Italian Renaissance

A distinct period in the 1400's and 1500's in which there was a renewed interest in culture, art, and learning.

papal/papacy

Of, or pertaining to the office of the Pope of the Catholic Church.

lion's share

An expression that means the biggest and best portion of something.

Doge

The title held by the man elected as ruling prince of the city of Venice.

textile

Of, or pertaining to cloth or to the production of cloth.

Medici

A powerful, wealthy family that dominated the politics of the city of Florence for much of the Renaissance.

humanism

A Renaissance intellectual movement that rejected medieval focus on religious causes for all events and looked to Greek and Roman values for inspiration. Humanists emphasized the potential and goodness of man and sought rational ways to solve human problems.

oligarchy

Any government dominated by a few wealthy people.

S'forza

A powerful, wealthy family that dominated the politics of the city of Milan.

mercenary

A soldier who fights for anyone who pays for their services.

patron

Someone who supports the arts or a specific artist.

liberal arts

Courses of study that focus on man and his accomplishments.

skepticism

The philosophical belief that certain knowledge is impossible, to doubt.

theology

study of religion

ethics

The study of moral principles and behavior.

philiology

The study of the historical development and origin of language.

Vatican

An independent state in the heart of the city of Rome that is ruled by the Pope. It is the center of the Catholic Church's governing authority.

Donation of Constantine

A medieval document that was falsely claimed to be a Roman deed that gave the Catholic Church control over much of Western Europe.

universal truths

Values that are common to all humanity, such as honesty and kindness.

"Renaissance Man"

Term coined by Castiglione to refer to the ideal man who can do everything and do it all well.

Civic Humanism

Renaissance intellectual movement that sought to design a more ideal form of government, inspired by classical Greek and Roman models.

political science

The study of different forms of government.

Christian Humanism

Renaissance intellectual movement that focused on trying to return the Church to earlier and more authentic practice of the faith.

Flanders

An ancient name for a major region of modern Belgium.

Vulgate Bible

The ancient Latin translation of the Bible used by the medieval Catholic Church.

Northern Renaissance

Term for the spread of the Renaissance into Northern and Western Europe, especially Germany and the Netherlands. It was more focused on religious issues than was the Italian Renaissance.

Low Countries

Collective term to refer to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

hierarchical

A societal structure that divides people into different ranks from highest to lowest.

clergy

The formal leaders of any given religion. Examples of clergy would be priests, bishops, ministers, rabbis, and imams.

peasants

One of the lower classes, they are rural, agricultural free laborers.

serfs

One of the lower classes, they are rural, agricultural labor who are bound to the land.

artisans

A type of skilled worker who produces items by hand, such as a tailor, a shoemaker, or a potter.

guild

A medieval trade organization made up of workers from a common industry. The guild controlled the training of new members, the quality of goods produced, and pricing.

rationalize

To attempt to explain or justify an action or belief that other might find offensive.

primogeniture

The ancient law that the first born male in a family inherited all property and titles.

feminist

The movement that seeks to elevate the status and opportunities for females.

querelles de femmes

Term for the centuries long debate about the proper role for women in European society.

perspective

The artistic technique of creating three-dimensional depth on a flat surface.

contrapposto

Artistic technique of showing a human figure with the weight on a single limb.

Gothic

Architectural style associated with the late-Middle Ages and often characterized with pointed arches, flying buttresses, and the use of stained glass windows.

New Monarchs

Historical term for those rulers who came to power in the 1500's and were able to establish stronger control over their nation's than medieval kings ever could.

War of Roses

A civil war in England from 1455 - 1485 fought for control of the throne.

Tudor

The family that controlled the English throne from 1485 - 1603.

regicide

The act of killing a ruling monarch.

usurper

Term refers to someone who seizes power that does not rightfully belong to them.

dynasty

A succession of members of a single family who control or rule a nation.

Moors

A Muslim people of North African origin who conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages and ruled much of the region for centuries.

Iberian Peninsula

Term for the geographic region of southwestern Europe that includes the nations of Portugal and Spain.

Inquisition

Term for religious courts set up by Catholic authorities in Spain to root out anyone suspected of practicing the Jewish or Muslim religions. The courts could use torture and death to enforce their power.

centralized

The concentration of authority and control in a single person or place.

Habsburg

The family that ruled over the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, and Spain for many centuries.

Laymember

someone who is apart of a religion but does not work for the church