AP European History

• The Renaissance was inspired by a revival of interest in classical texts from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as a shift towards a more secular and individualistic way of thinking
• Humanism emphasized the study of classical history and literature as the foundation for education
• Civic humanism, seen in the Renaissance, focused on preparing individuals for careers in public service
• Increased trade and advancements in banking and bookkeeping created wealth, leading to new commercial elites like the Medici becoming patrons of Renaissance artists
• Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch, was a fourteenth-century Italian poet and the "Father of Humanism" for reviving scholarly interest in classical studies
• Renaissance art focused on naturalistic portrayals of human subjects, balance, linear perspective, and bright colors, often depicting scenes from classical literature
• The Northern Renaissance, influenced by Christian humanism, produced works focused on Christian principles and social reform
• Erasmus of Rotterdam, a Dutch humanist scholar, criticized Catholic Church practices in his book "The Praise of Folly" to advocate for social reform
• New monarchies in England, France, and Spain centralized power by collecting taxes directly and focusing on social reform
• The Age of Exploration, with advancements like the compass and Mercator projection maps, allowed Europeans to sail beyond their known territories
• The Columbian Exchange, a result of the Age of Exploration, involved the exchange of people, goods, food, animals, ideas, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds
• The voyages of exploration generated wealth through colonization and trade, increasing the power of Western European monarchs
• Interest in reforming the Catholic Church spread rapidly after Martin Luther's initial challenge, aided by the dissemination of ideas with the printing press
• The sculpture "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" by Gian Lorenzo Bernini is housed in the Cornaro Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome

  
• Baroque art, encouraged by the Catholic Church to oppose the austerity of Protestant art, emphasized grandeur, sharp contrasts, and detail to inspire an emotional response in the viewer
• Baroque artists mostly painted religious subjects, contrasting with the radical reformation’s support of iconoclasm
• The Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter Reformation, implemented new practices to curb the excesses of the medieval church, such as requiring a higher level of literacy among priests and limiting the sale of indulgences
• The Jesuit order, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, was developed to support the Catholic Church in spiritual warfare against the Protestant reformers
• The Reformation challenged existing norms, leading to a broader reorganization of society, including changes in women's roles and the shift of regulating public morals from the Church to the state
• Nations throughout Europe began to reevaluate their civic governments and challenge the power of monarchs, reducing the authority of the Catholic Church throughout Europe
• The School of Athens by Raphael is a fresco painting located in the Vatican City, depicting a gathering of ancient Greek philosophers and scholars

  
• The Drunken Couple by Jan Steen, a 17th-century painting in the Prado Museum in Madrid, is a satirical commentary on the dangers of drunkenness and human behavior

  
• The Breton Pardon by Paul Gauguin shows a group of people in traditional Breton costumes in a field

  
• Marcel Duchamp's Fountain, a porcelain urinal with the signature "R. Mutt 1917," sparked a debate about what constitutes art when it was rejected by an exhibition committee

  
• The Dutch Golden Age was characterized by genre paintings focusing on real-life scenes or illustrating Dutch adages and moral lessons
• Jan Steen's painting, The World Turned Upside Down, combines naturalism and moralizing to depict a Dutch home and the dangers of wealth
• During the Dutch Golden Age, the Netherlands rose to economic, political, and technological prominence, fueled by the Protestant work ethic and trade
• Mercantilism, an economic philosophy in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, aimed to increase national wealth by limiting imports and developing colonies for raw materials
• Neoclassicism in art and architecture drew inspiration from classical antiquity, emphasizing rationality and seriousness
• The fresco painting "The School of Athens" by Raphael depicts a gathering of ancient Greek philosophers and scholars

  
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini's sculpture "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" is housed in the Cornaro Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome

  
• Neoclassical architecture, like the Church of La Madeleine in Paris, emphasized classical themes, symmetry, and decorative garlands
• The Enlightenment period saw intellectuals applying the principles of the Scientific Revolution to questions about society and human institutions
• Enlightenment philosophes like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau focused on the social contract theory, emphasizing the relationship between political leaders and the people they ruled
• Adam Smith challenged mercantilism, advocating for economic liberalism and free trade to promote economic growth
• Enlightened absolutist monarchs, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, incorporated Enlightenment ideas into their policies, like religious tolerance towards minorities
• The British Agricultural Revolution led to increased food production, population growth, and higher life expectancies due to improved health and smallpox inoculation
• The French Revolution was triggered by tensions over social inequalities, financial crises, and Enlightenment ideas challenging the traditional social structure
• The French Revolution transitioned from a liberal phase to a radical one led by the Jacobins, marked by violence and the Reign of Terror
• European competition in the 18th century, driven by intellectual movements like capitalism, led to commercial rivalries and territorial expansions