The Middle Ages
How did the Bubonic Plague arrive in Europe?
Carried by fleas on rats on ships returning from Asia (trade brought the plague to Europe). Spread easily due to poor sanitation/overcrowding in cities, poor hygiene, and malnutrition.
What is the difference between scholasticism and humanism?
Scholasticism focused on training people who would work as theologians, lawyers or doctors, and thus used works of theology, philosophy, medicine and law as a basis for study. Humanism, on the other hand, focused on creating people who would be ideal citizens in whatever domain their work lay and would be able to speak persuasively to encourage those around them to a moral life; thus, students pursuing humanist studies were instructed from historically important works of poetry, history, grammar and rhetoric.
Name three ways New Monarchs reduced the power of the church and the nobility.
Examples include: taxation, confiscation of lands (through show trials or religious persecution), creation/hiring of armies (mercenaries included), taking the power to appoint clergy in their countries, gave power to the new middle class through borrowing money (with interest) and increasing their political power at the expense of the nobles.
What are the three Cs that make up the causes of the Reformation?
Crises of the Church, Corruption in the Church, Critics of the Church
Describe the War of the Three Henrys.
Took place in France; fought between the Valois, Bourbon, and Guise families.
Henry III of France (Catholic but tolerant), Henry Navarre (Huguenot), and Henry, Duke of Guise (uber Catholic). It was an argument over succession. Henry of Navarre was kept as heir and became King Henry IV of France after Henry III was killed.
What was the lasting impact of the 100 Years' War?
The struggles began the modernization of state building in France and England. Joan of Arc as a symbol sowed the seeds of nationalism.
What does the statement "Erasmus lay the egg that Luther hatched" mean?
Erasmus was a northern humanist who criticized the Church through satire (specifically the immorality and hypocrisy of the clergy).
What was the Commercial Revolution? How were the middle class involved?
Rise of capitalism led by the middle class--upward trend in prices buoyed by increased food prices, larger population, more volume of money, influx of gold and silver from the New World.
What are the main tenets of Luther's Protestantism?
Salvation through faith alone, Bible is the sole authority, only two sacraments, advocated consubstantiation ("real presence" vs actual body/blood), priesthood of all believers, rejection of monastic tenets
What happened in 1588, and what spurred the event?
The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English navy (and natural weather events). Phillip II of Spain wanted to invade England in retaliation for their support of the Dutch Republic's bid for independence and to make England Catholic again.
What was the role of the Catholic Church in the Medieval Era?
Western and central European society was dominated by the Church after the fall of the Roman Empire. Religious authorities were more powerful than secular authorities.
What is Christian humanism?
Emphasized early Church writings that provided answers on how to improve society and reform the Church. It drew on Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible and writings of church fathers.
Bartholomew de las Casas wrote A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies. What did it talk about?
Publicly criticized the ruthlessness with which the explorers/settlers treated the native population. His writings helped spread the "black legend" where people thought only Catholic countries were to blame.
What is the Peace of Augsburg (1555)?
Princes in Germany could choose either Protestantism or Catholicism for their states.
How did the Edict of Restitution (1629) impact Europe?
This is when the HRE declared all church territories that had been secularized since 1552 to be automatically restored to the Catholic Church. This angered the German princes, caused Protestants to flee Germany into other countries who were then alarmed (and some intervened, like Sweden), and contributed to France's decision to enter the war.
How did the Babylonian Captivity (1309-77) damage the Church?
Popes believed to be overly influenced by French kings due to location and their luxurious lifestyle criticized.
Name two beliefs Machiavelli shared about what makes a great ruler.
The ends justify the means, it is better to be feared than loved, rulers should be practical and cunning as well as aggressive and ruthless.
Why wasn't Charles V (HRE) considered a New Monarch?
Name three religious groups in countries outside of the HRE that have their origins in Calvinism.
Presbyterians, Huguenots, Puritans
William I (William of Orange) led a revolt against the Spanish Inquisition between 1568-1648. What was the result of this revolt?
The creation of the Dutch Republic (United Provinces of the Netherlands) in 1581.
Name two early critics of the Catholic Church.
John Wyclif (church should only follow scripture, wrote English translation of the Bible) and John Huss (ideas similar to Wyclif and led nationalist movement in Bohemia).
Describe some of the differences between Italian and Northern Renaissance art.
Italian - idealized beauty, religious and mythological inspiration, focused on linear perspective, often frescos
Northern - prized realism and detail, religious and domestic inspiration, many portraits, focused on color and detail, usually oil paint
How did joint-stock companies and chartered companies contribute to exploration and expansion?
Joint-stock companies - investors pooled their resources for a common purpose, like trade
Chartered companies - states provided monopolies in certain areas using naval and military power (Dutch East India Co, British East India Co)
Money coming from states and private investors allowed trade, exploration, and expansion to grow.
What were the results of the Council of Trent?
Establish Catholic dogma for centuries, confirmed equal validity of scripture, Church traditions, and writings of church fathers, salvation through faith and good works, all seven sacraments, transubstantiation, monasticism.
Also established the Index of Forbidden Books.
Curtailed some of the church abuses of power.
Why is the Thirty Years' War considered the most important war of the 17th century?
Balance of Power diplomacy emerged in Europe; the Treaty of Westphalia created the idea of sovereignty; it marked the end of the wars of religion in Europe; HRE effectively crippled; led to the rise of France and Prussia as major powers.