The Renaissance
The School of Athens (1509-1511) by Raphael decorates the pope's apartments at the Vatican in Rome. One of the most famous paintings of the Italian Renaissance, it celebrates Greco-Roman culture by including a who's who of ancient philosophy including Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Ptolemy, Zoroaster, and many others.
The Renaissance
- What does Renaissance mean and refer to?
- Where did it begin and why?
- Who were the major players and what were their achievements?
- Humanism/humanities
- Secular
- Patron
- Perspective
- Printing press
The Reformation
This 19th century painting by Julius Hübner sensationalizes Luther's posting of the 95 Theses before a crowd in Germany in 1517 AD.
This event triggered the Protestant Reformation. In reality, posting theses for a disputation would have been routine.
This event triggered the Protestant Reformation. In reality, posting theses for a disputation would have been routine.
The Reformation
- What problems existed in the Roman Catholic Church?
- Lutheranism
- Anglicanism
- Where? When?
- Henry VIII
- Annulment from Catherine of Aragon
- Act of Supremacy
- Religious views of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I?
- Anglican Church
- Calvinism
- Anabaptists
- Beliefs about baptism?
- Persecuted by whom?
- Influenced whom?
- Catholic Reformation
- Ignatius of Loyola
- Jesuits
- Decisions of the Council of Trent
- Index of Forbidden Books
The Age of Exploration
Victoria, the sole ship of Magellan's fleet to complete the circumnavigation. Detail from a map by Ortelius, 1590.
The Age of Exploration
- Why were Western European nations seeking a new sea route to Asia?
- What were the three primary motives for exploration?
- What new sailing technologies made exploration possible?
- What the first European nation to explore the Atlantic?
- Who were the major players and what were their achievements?
- Treaty of Tordesillas
- What was the first European country to dominate trade in the Indian Ocean?
- Which European nations later came to dominate Indian Ocean trading?
- Dutch East India Company
- English East India Company
- Why did Europeans only have limited control of the countries of SE Asia?
- Zheng He
- Chinese isolation
- What was the major European import from China?
- Why did the British resent China’s trade restrictions?
- Who were the first Europeans in Japan?
- How did European firearms transform Japan?
- Francis Xavier
- Japan’s Closed Country Policy
Conquest of the Americas
Spanish conquistadors with their Tlaxcalan allies during the conquest of Mexico. The Tlaxcalans are carrying their traditional obsidian-tipped war clubs. Shown here is a scene from the 1522 exploration led by Cristóbal de Olid, one of Hernan Cortés' most trusted lieutenants.
Conquest of the Americas
- Aztec
- The Legend of Quetzalcoatl
- Mexica
- Tenochtitlan
- What did the Aztec based their power on?
- Chinampas
- Why did the Aztec practice human sacrifice?
- Inca
- Spanish & Portuguese Empires
- Who were the major players and what were their achievements?
- Origin of the term “Indians”
- Colonies
- Conquistadors
- How were the Spanish able to defeat the Aztecs and Incas?
- What effect did European diseases have on native American populations?
- Peninsulares & mestizos
- Encomienda
- Sugar
The Atlantic Economy
Native Americans allied with the French attack British soldiers and civilians during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
The Atlantic Economy
- Which European nations sought colonies in North America?
- New France
- Jamestown
- Pilgrims
- New Netherland/New York
- French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War – Causes? Results?
- Why did Europeans begin using African slaves?
- Atlantic slave trade
- Triangular trade
- Middle Passage
- Columbian Exchange
- Capitalism
- Joint-stock company
- Mercantilism
Absolute Monarchs
This 1859 painting depicts Tsar Peter the Great after the capture of a town on the Baltic Sea coast from Sweden during the Great Northern War.