Renaissance Overview and Its Effects

A pardon purchased from the Catholic Church that supposedly releases a person from punishment for their sins.

Martin Luther's list of 95 complaints against the Catholic Church, particularly criticizing the selling of indulgences.

To officially exclude someone from participating in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

The Roman Catholic Church was the dominant force in Medieval Europe, controlling everyday life, politics, and even influencing kings by threatening excommunication.

The Church generated income through various means like charging for ceremonies, selling indulgences, and owning vast amounts of land.

The Church spent large sums of money on lavish projects like beautifying churches, demonstrating its wealth and influence.

Many officials within the Church were more interested in politics and personal gains than religious matters, leading to corruption.

Lower officials in the Church lacked education and sometimes exploited the people through the sale of indulgences.

The belief that a king's authority comes directly from God, not from the people or any other earthly source.

The chief minister of France during the reign of Louis XIII, who strengthened the power of the monarchy and reduced the power of the nobility. He also helped increase French power in Europe.

The powerful and extravagant palace built by King Louis XIV outside of Paris, which housed the king and his nobility. It almost bankrupted France due to its immense cost.

The term used to describe the rule of a monarch with absolute power, where the king or queen has unlimited authority and does not share power with anyone.

The war that took place after the death of Charles II of Spain, when Louis XIV of France broke a deal to share Spain with Austria, leading to a war.

A period of profound change in how people understood the natural world, marking the emergence of modern science. It redefined our understanding of nature, fostered technological advancement, and inspired a new way of thinking that continues to shape the modern world.

A way of thinking that emphasizes using reason, evidence, and skepticism of authority. It challenged traditional beliefs about the world, promoting a more scientific and rational approach to knowledge.

A philosophical movement that championed reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority. Its focus was on understanding human behavior and improving society.

An individual who seeks to understand and explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, mind, language, and the nature of reality.

A system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from having too much power. It divides the power of government among different branches.

A document outlining the rules for how national and state governments would share power, including the division of the national government into three branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).

This system ensures that no branch of government becomes too powerful. Each branch has the authority to check the actions of the other two branches.

The body of government that creates laws. The U.S. Congress is the legislative branch.

The body of government that enforces the laws. The U.S. President is the head of the executive branch.

The body of government that interprets and explains the laws. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the judicial branch.

A legal code created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804 that protected individual liberty, property rights, and equality before the law. It also emphasized the right to work and freedom of opinion.

A system of government where the ruler holds absolute power and authority. It is characterized by suppression of opposition and limited individual freedoms.

The Battle of Waterloo in 1815, marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte and ended his reign as Emperor of France.

A philosophical concept that suggests a government's legitimacy is derived from the consent of the governed. The people agree to be ruled in exchange for protection of their rights.

A movement within Christianity that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of new Protestant denominations.

A theocracy is a form of government where religious leaders have the ultimate authority and rule according to their beliefs.

A key figure in the Protestant Reformation, John Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva, Switzerland, characterized by strict rules and adherence to religious doctrine.

King of England who broke with the Catholic Church, declared himself head of the Church of England, and had six wives.

Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor and Henry VIII's desire for a male heir led to their separation and the creation of the Church of England.

The 1534 Act of Supremacy established the King of England as the head of the Church of England, independent of the Pope in Rome.

Edward VI, King of England, was a young Protestant ruler who solidified the Protestant Reformation in England but died at a young age, leaving the country in a state of uncertainty.

Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary, was the Catholic daughter of Henry VIII who reversed the Protestant reforms and harshly persecuted Protestants, earning her the nickname.

Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, restored Protestantism in England and established the Anglican Church, a compromise between Catholic and Protestant practices.

The Catholic Counter-Reformation was a period of intense reform within the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation, aimed at stemming the spread of Protestantism.

A secret court established by the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation to investigate and prosecute heresy, using harsh methods like torture and imprisonment.

A series of meetings of Catholic bishops and theologians that addressed issues raised by the Protestant Reformation and helped revitalize the Catholic Church.

The Thirty Years' War, a major conflict fueled by religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics, devastated Europe and resulted in treaties that strengthened the power of monarchs and weakened the influence of the Church.

Dutch humanist who was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, Erasmus's writings criticized corruption in the Catholic Church and inspired Martin Luther.