Renaissance Era Overview

Renaissance

• A period of artistic and intellectual rebirth in Europe (roughly 1300-1600)
• Originated in Italy due to thriving cities, wealthy merchants, and classical heritage
• Revival of classical Greek and Roman art and learning
• Led to new artistic styles, literature, and individualistic values
• Spread throughout Europe from northern Italy
• Patrons (wealthy families/merchants) commissioned art to display wealth and status; public art fostered diverse styles
• Writers began using vernacular languages (e.g., Italian) instead of Latin, emphasizing individual expression

Renaissance in Europe

• Urban growth from the end of the Hundred Years' War and population increase spurred artistic patronage
• Italian artists and writers migrated to northern Europe, spreading Renaissance ideals
• The printing press increased book production and availability, enabling wider dissemination of knowledge beyond religious texts

Renaissance Man

• A person of exceptional talent and diverse skills
• Qualities included charm, wit, classical education, musical and artistic abilities, and physical prowess
• Described in Baldassare Castiglione's "The Courtier"

Reformation

• A religious movement for reform in the Catholic Church
• Led by Martin Luther, who protested church abuses
• Established Protestant churches rejecting papal authority
• Renaissance values of humanism and secularism fueled questioning of the church

Suleyman the Magnificent

• Ottoman Empire's peak ruler (1520-1566)
• Conquered Belgrade, coastal North African cities, and expanded into Austria and Hungary
• Created a comprehensive law code, simplified taxes, and reorganized administration
• Trained and educated an army of capable soldiers
• Tolerant of other religious communities (millets)
• Patron of art and architecture, known for the Mosque of Suleyman

Isma'il

• Safavid ruler who conquered much of Persia in his youth
• Declared Shi'a Islam as the state religion, enhancing unity and loyalty, though deemed a religious tyrant by some

Shah Abbas

• Promoted cultural blending in the Safavid Empire, including trade, art, and industry with Europeans
• Built a new capital, Esfahan, incorporating artisans from various backgrounds (e.g., Chinese and Safavid)
• Strengthened the military with modern artillery and two loyal armies.
• His actions ultimately contributed to the empire's decline

Akbar

• Mughal Empire's peak ruler (1556-1605)
• Equipped his army with heavy artillery
• Promoted cultural blending, influencing art, education, politics, and language
• Implemented fair tax policies, abolishing some taxes that burdened non-Muslims
• Showed religious tolerance (accepted multiple wives of different faiths)
• Introduced a graduated tax system

Aurangzeb

• Mughal Empire's aggressive ruler (1658-1707)
• Reverted many of Akbar's positive policies
• Imposed taxes on non-Muslims, dismissed Hindus from high office
• Fostered rebellion among the Hindu Rajputs
• Exhausted resources via costly military campaigns, leading to widespread discontent

Prince Henry the Navigator

• Portuguese prince
• Sponsored voyages of exploration along the African West Coast
• Established a navigation school, aiding advancements in cartography, shipbuilding, and navigation

Treaty of Tordesillas

• Agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands
• Established a Line of Demarcation to settle disputes over territory

Zheng He

• Chinese admiral who led seven voyages of exploration (1405–1433)
• Led large fleets to distant lands, distributing gifts to demonstrate Chinese power
• Voyages later halted due to official opposition citing economic and defense concerns

Chinese Trade with Europe

• Restricted trade to three ports (Canton, Macao, Ningbo)
• Silk, porcelain smuggling by private merchants occurred
• Europeans' use of silver to purchase Chinese goods

Tokugawa Ieyasu

• Unified Japan after winning the Battle of Sekigahara
• Became shogun and moved the capital to Edo (Tokyo)
• Implemented policies to control daimyo (nobles) — including alternate attendance policy
• Initially tolerated Christian missionaries, later banned Christianity to maintain order

Spain in the New World

• Primary motives included: gold, trade routes, and expanding influence
• Explorers like Columbus, Magellan, Cortes, Pizzaro, and Coronado impacted the Americas
• Spanish colonization led to native conversions and conflicts
• Abolishment of the encomienda system led to African enslavement

England in the New World

• Jamestown: First permanent English settlement (1607) faced initial hardship
• Puritans: Established colonies in New England (1630) seeking religious freedom
• Pilgrims: Established Plymouth (1620).
• Conflicts with native populations, culminating in King Philip's War
• Introduction of the slave trade significantly impacted the colonies and, eventually, the nation.

Mercantilism

• Economic theory emphasizing national wealth through trade surpluses

United Provinces of the Netherlands

• Seven northern provinces declared independence from Spain (1579)
• Practiced religious tolerance and republic form of government

Cardinal Richelieu

• Strengthened the French monarchy by weakening the Huguenots and nobles
• Involved France in the Thirty Years' War to challenge Habsburg power

Ivan IV (the Terrible)

• Early rule was characterized by justice and expansion
• Later years saw suspicion, violence, and significant internal conflict
• Ended with the Time of Troubles

Peter the Great

• Modernized Russia with reforms like introducing potatoes, encouraging Western dress and enhancing education
• Consolidated power as an absolute ruler
• Expanded Russia's territory by gaining a Baltic seaport
• Built a new city, fostering social movement away from Moscow

Enlightenment Ideals

• Emphasis on reason, individual thought, and solutions to problems

Montesquieu

• Advocated for separation of powers in government (checks and balances)
• Influenced political thought in North America

Thomas Hobbes

• Believed humans are naturally selfish and need a strong ruler for order

Old Regime Taxes

• First and Second Estates (clergy and nobles) were exempt from taxes
• Third Estate (bourgeoisie, urban lower class, peasants) bore the tax burden

Reign of Terror

• Reign of terror under Robespierre, aimed at protecting the French Revolution.
• Resulted in the execution of many perceived enemies of the revolution

Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

• Napoleon's invasion of Russia (1812) led to disastrous defeat due to scorched-earth tactics and harsh winter conditions.
• Significant loss of life and military resources

Congress of Vienna

• Series of meetings to establish a new European order after Napoleon
• Goals included preventing future French aggression, restoring balance of power, and restoring monarchies
• Involved significant territorial adjustments across Europe

Explore the Renaissance, a transformative period in Europe marked by artistic and intellectual advancements from 1300 to 1600. This quiz covers key aspects such as the revival of classical art, the role of patrons, and the spread of Renaissance ideals across Europe. Test your knowledge on how these changes influenced literature and individual expression.