AP European History
– Mr. O’Donnell
European History
I. 1450-1550 Renaissance
A.
Renaissance (rebirth from the middle ages
of
1.
laws, language, and economics improved
2.
3.
Independent domains (city states)
governed by merchants
4.
5.
Christians such as Erasmus and Thomas
More tried to reinforce earlier Christian morals by studying Greek and Hebrew
texts of the Bible
B.
Italian Renaissance
1.
2.
City states prospered from the loans
given to the monarchs
3.
The Medici Family
a.
Giovanni de' Medici- considered one of
the 1st "modern men," lent money to the Popes and monarchs
to gain interest
b.
Cosimo- son of Giovanni, became
unofficial ruler of
c.
Lorenzo- Cosimo's grandson, republic's
ruler, patron of the arts
d.
Family ruled well into 18th
century- two Popes, many Cardinals
4.
Major city states
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
C.
Individualism
1.
Man is the measure of all things
2.
"Virtu"- quality of being a man
3.
meant to living up to the highest
potential and excelling in all endeavors- renaissance man- all around in pen,
brush, sword, lover, poet, conversationalist
D.
Art as an expression
1.
pre-renaissance…church was patron of the
arts- so many statues of saints and religious sculptures were created to fill
cathedrals
2.
renaissance took art to a new level of
realism in sculpture and painting
3.
Greco-Roman architecture, columns, arches
and domes
a.
Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista
Alberti studied Roman structures to build cathedrals
4.
in Greek tradition religiously and
mythological- sculptures were not created for churches
a.
Lorenzo Ghiberti, , Giotti, Massaccio,
Sandro Betticelli, Raphael Santi painted and created illusions of depth (3D)
which was new for the era
5.
Leonardo da Vinci- "Renaaissance
Man"
a.
painter, sculptor, architect, engineer,
writer, scientist
b.
created the Mona Lisa, Last Supper etc.
6.
Michelangelo Buonarroti
a.
"Pieta" sculpture of Jesus
laying limp across Mother Mary's lap- perfect marble carving
b.
Moses and David sculptures
c.
Sistine Chapel paintings in
E.
Humanism
1.
Literary movemnet
a.
dealt with issues of politics and
personal concerns outside of religion- as a profession and not as a pursuit of
clergy
b.
wrote in Italian not Latin- 1st
European vernacular literature
2.
Dante- poet
a.
wrote "Divine Comedy" and
speech patterns of
b.
became the standard form of modern
Italian
3.
Petrarch- considered 1st
"modern writer"
a.
wrote his sonnets in Italian and other
works in Latin
b.
from
4.
Boccaccio- contemporary of Petrarch
a.
wrote "Decameron"- entertaining
tales that reflect upon human condition
5.
Bruni- chancellor of
a.
wrote one of the 1st modern
history accounts of
6.
Baldassare Castiglione- manual for modern
gentlemen and manners
a.
wrote "The Book of the
Courtier" - antidote for crude social habits (picking nose etc.)
b.
prosperity had bred civility
7.
Niccolo Machiavelli- 1st
political science writer
a.
wrote "The Prince" -
observation how governments rule without moral judgement
b.
one of the most misinterpreted books of
modern times- sometimes thought as "Handbook for Dictators" - the
concept of "the end justifies the means"
c.
observations how city states or
monarchies acted in their own political interest, making war or peace
d.
religion had little influence in the rise
to power
e.
supposed to be a guide for the survival
of independent city states of
F.
Northern Renaissance
1.
differed from Italian Renaissance because
it emphasized religion
2.
Pagan humanism of
3.
Christian humanism of the North drew upon
Hebrew & Greek texts of the Bible & writings of the church fathers to
invigorate Christian traditions
G.
1.
Pre-Reformation was at the heart of the
European progress
2.
Politically diverse but economics thrived
3.
Controlled more capital (money) than
4.
Science & Technology
a.
Johannes Gutenberg invented 1st
movable type “printing press” Mazarin Bible
b.
Regiomontanus (Johann Muller) &
Nicolas of Cusa created foundation for mathematics & science in 15th
century
c.
Behaim & Schoner developed the most
accurate maps of the time
d.
Copernicus realized Earth was NOT the
center of the universe…the sun was “heliocentric”
5.
Mysticism- belief an individual alone (no
church needed) could commune with God
a.
Meister Echart & Thomas a Kempis
(author of “Imitation of Christ”) pursued religious depth rather than religion,
but did stay true to the church
b.
Gerard Groote- Dutch preacher organized
“Brothers of the Common Life” a
religious organization stressed Christian virtues
c.
Desiderius Erasmus “Christian Gentleman”
– Christian humanism published “In Praise of Folly”
H.
1. each of the
following gave birth to the forming of modern English
a.
Christopher Marlowe – dramatist
b.
Edmund Spenser - poet
c.
Francis Bacon – scientist
d.
William Shakespeare – writer…set standard
for English language
e.
Sir Thomas More – wrote “Utopia” (perfect
society)- beheaded by Henry VIII for not siding with the King against the Pope
during the English Reformation
I.
1.
Hundred Year War (1337-1453) actually 116
a.
strengthened by commerce- expanded &
enriched the middle class
b.
nobility weakened- government is
centralized
c.
Francis I inherited a strong throne but
extended power because of creating a direct tax on all land & property
d.
Rabelais – priest attacked failings of
French society & church in “Gargantua” & “Panta Gruel”
e.
Montaigne – preached open mindedness
& rational skepticism modern view of life
J.
1.
Locked in Catholic Orthodoxy- fighting
against Moors (Muslems)
a.
xenophobia diluted the impact of the
Renaissance (1492 Aragon & Castille united to form modern
b.
Miguel de Cervantes – wrote great novel
“Don Quixote” satirized chivalry & medieval institutions
c.
“golden age” Lope de Vega wrote 100’s of
dramas
d. Murillo, el Greco & Velazquez
painted religious themes
e.
Jusuit Francisco Suarez – admired for law
& philosophy