AP European History - Unit 1 Summary

The Renaissance

• Definition: Rebirth of classical texts and ideas from Romans and Greeks.
• Cause: Rediscovery through Islamic scholars and increased contact during Crusades.

Key Figures

• Petrarch: Pre-Renaissance figure, laid groundwork for Renaissance.
  • Humanism: Philosophy focusing on human potential.
  • Cicero Discovery: Work on republicanism, opposition to tyranny.

Intellectual Developments

• Philological Approaches: Study of language development.
  • Lorenzo Valla: Proved church document forgery using philology.
• Secularism & Individualism: Shift from religious to secular authority.

Education Changes

• Introduction of humanities into curriculum: history, philosophy, poetry.
• Baldessari Castiglione: Wrote "The Courtier" on gentlemanly behavior.

Political Changes

• Civic Humanism: Educated men in politics.
• Leonardo Bruni & Nicolo Machiavelli: Advocated republicanism and pragmatic rulership.

Art and Culture

• Naturalism: Realistic portrayal of the world.
• Italian vs. Northern Renaissance: Differences in artistic focus.

Notable Artists

• Michelangelo: "David," naturalism and idealism.
• Raphael: "School of Athens," classical themes.
• Philippo Brunelleschi: Architectural innovations.

The Spread of Renaissance

• Printing Press Impact: Spread ideas, challenged universities and powers.
• Northern Renaissance: More Christian-focused, "Christian Humanism."
  • Desiderius Erasmus: Advocated for societal reform through classical education.

The Printing Revolution

• Johannes Gutenberg: Movable type, mass production of books.
• Effect: Broadened access to knowledge, laid groundwork for Reformation.

Political Developments

• Rise of new monarchs consolidating power from nobility.
  • Henry VIII & Elizabeth I: Religious reforms from the top down.
• Ferdinand & Isabella: Unified Spain, tax systems.
• Concordat of Bologna: French king's control over church appointments.

Exploration and Colonialism

• Motivations: God, Gold, and Glory.
• Mercantilism: Economic system focusing on accumulating wealth.
• Navigational Advances: Enabled exploration, e.g., cartography, caravels.

Key Explorers and Empires

• Portugal & Spain: Trading posts and large territorial claims.
• Impact on Relations: Diplomacy and conflict over colonial possessions.

The Columbian Exchange

• Definition: Exchange of goods, flora, fauna, and diseases.
  • Diseases: Devastated indigenous populations.
  • Food & Animals: Transformed diets and agriculture.
  • Minerals & People: Wealth influx and African slave trade.

Economic Changes

• Commercial Revolution: Shift from feudalism to early capitalism.
• Price Revolution & Enclosure Movement: Economic and societal impact.

Social Hierarchies

• Feudalism Persistence: Continued in local communities.
• Urbanization: Migration to cities due to economic changes.

This summary encapsulates key points from the first unit of AP European History, focusing on transformations during the Renaissance, major political changes, the impact of the printing press, the motivations and consequences of European exploration, and the economic shifts leading into modern capitalist economies.