a rebirth or resurgence; has been applied to the time period between 1450-1750 in Europe characterized by the rediscovery of the classical works of Greece and Rome, but can refer to any general cultural resurgence
renaissance
the process of updating an institution or practice; has been applied to refer to the 16th century events in Europe that resulted in the establishment of Protestant churches and changes to the Roman Catholic Church
Reformation
massive exchange of agricultural goods, livestock, disease, culture and people between the Old World the New World during the 16th-19th centuries
Columbian Exchange
to gain understanding or knowledge; has been generally applied to an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century in which philosophers sought to find natural laws by which to govern societies
Enlightenment
language used by the common people
vernacular
refers to Christian church denominations, teachings, and individuals during the Reformation that rejected Roman Catholic Church doctrines
Protestant
a forced labor system in which a tract of land was granted to Spanish colonists in Latin America during the 16th century that included the American Indians living on the land to serve as labor
encomienda system
political philosophy that argues that the populous and the ruler/government enter into a mutual relationship
social contract
an intellectual and philosophical emphasis on the importance of individuals as creative and critical thinkers
humanism
sacred religious practices or ceremonies first introduced by the Roman Catholic Church
sacraments
an economic philosophy that promoted the idea of a nation’s wealth was enhanced by the accumulation of bullion, a favorable balance of trade, and the establishment of overseas colonial monopolies
mercantilism
liberties and freedoms inherent to being human
natural rights
refers to the belief that religion and politics should operate in separate spheres as well as the rejection of religion in the public sphere
secularism
the use of hypothesis, observation and experimentation to reach conclusions about the natural and physical world
scientific method
BONUS Question: America was named after this explorer.
Amerigo Vespucci
BONUS Question: The Declaration of Independence is based off of the writings of this man.
John Locke