AP Euro Full Study Guide

• The Renaissance was known for its advancements in art, architecture, and religious discourse, even though it should have been conflicted by the plague that occurred in the Middle Ages
• People began to rediscover classical arts, texts, and ideals from ancient Rome and Greece
• The Renaissance promoted the Exploration overseas and the colonization of colonies that were found
• While the Middle Ages were categorized by the fear of death, life, and overall darkness, the Renaissance had the emergence of ancient scholarly ideas that brought light and enjoyment of life
• Differences and similarities in Society

  • New Societal Patterns emerged; individuals, artists, and scholars had a different place in society
  • Hierarchy and status continued, as social classes and wealth were extremely important
  • Most Europeans continued their life based on Agriculture; MAJOR CHANGES IN THE RENAISSANCE MAINLY IMPACTED THE RICH AND UPPER CLASS
  • Feudalism was mainly dismantled
• Exploration


  Caused by the curiosity of the idea of a "new world", there were also strong economic and religious reasons
• Colonization was about conquering the world with religion
• City-states were created because of the economy evolving - which controlled the political and economic life of the surrounding countryside
• This led to a new social group in Italy: the urban rich (local nobility and the newly rich)
• The Italian Renaissance started in the 15th century (1400s) with the revival of classical texts and humanist values
• Five major city-states that evolved

  • Milan
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Naples
  • Papal States
• Oligarchies also emerged - a group of people that controlled the government
• The Italian Renaissance is characterized by a shift in the way of thinking and the culture of the society at the time
• The key factor in the spread of Greek and Roman texts was the printing press
• Printing press


  A device created in the 15th century, allowing for words and texts to be spread throughout Europe
• The printing press made people start to challenge the legitimacy of the Catholic Church
• New ideas that emerged throughout the Renaissance

  • Humanism - interest in the study of the style and values
  • Greek and Roman classical texts
  • Secularism - moving away from the church
  • Individualism - becoming more independent
  • Naturalism - a true-to-life style that involves the representation or depiction of nature (including people) with the least possible distortion or interpretation
  • Geometric perspective - realistic three-dimensional perspective
  • Patronage - people being paid for their artwork
• Humanist perspective also revolved around the idea of making the "man" the center of the universe and its creations
• Renaissance Man


  An individual who is well-rounded in many different areas of scholarships and is a source of knowledge
• Important paintings and artists

  • Lorenzo Valla - paintings
  • Michelangelo - paintings, sculptures, architect
  • Donatello - sculptures
  • Raphael - paintings
• The Northern Renaissance began occurring after the Italian Renaissance, in the 15th century (the 1400s)
• The Northern Renaissance impacted northern countries in Europe like Germany, France, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands
• The Northern Renaissance was a catalyst of the Protestant Reformation
• The biggest societal change in the Northern Renaissance was the invention of the printing press
• The Northern Renaissance was characterized by the idea of Christian Humanism
• Christian Humanism


  The teachings of Christianity were shaped to include what it means to be an individual
• Prince of Humanism = Erasmus
• Dutch humanists and scholars wrote criticisms of the corruption of the Catholic Church
• As Christian Humanism rose, religious reform and new religious sectors were promoted
• Naturalism


  Aims to depict the world and individuals in greater precision and detail
• Naturalism artists


  • Pieter Bruegal the Elder
  • Rembrandt
• Differences between Italian & Northern Renaissance

  • Italian Renaissance: Heavily emphasized the teachings of classical texts, Fewer depictions in art of everyday life "naturalism" and more mythological deceptions, Linked less on Religious issues and ​​more on intellectual reforms in history, literature, and human anatomy
  • Northern Renaissance: Studied less on classical texts, More domestic and religious depictions in art and everyday life (greater detail), Linked more with religious issues and reforms (people started to question the church)
• The Printing Press was created by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s
• The Printing Press originally came from China
• Books became less expensive and more available due to the Printing Press
• Martin Luther's "95 Theses" in 1517 went against the Church by telling that the selling of indulgences would damn the person instead of saving them
• Erasmus's new translation of the bible revolutionized modern biblical studies
• The Prince by Machiavelli provided a guide for rulers at the time on how to maintain authority
• The Printing Press also helped propel the Scientific Revolution
• The Printing Press helped improve the accuracy and speed of documents