| A | B |
|---|
| Renaissance | A period of cultural and artistic flowering in Europe that began in Italy around 1350. |
| classics | The literature of ancient Greece and Rome. |
| patron | A person who uses his or her money and influence to support another person, such as an artist or a writer. |
| Reformation | A religious movement in sixteen-century Europe, led by Martin Luther, that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the birth of Protestant churches. |
| indulgences | Something granted as a favor or privilege; In the Roman Catholic Church - The remission of punishment still due for a sin that has been sacramentally absolved. |
| heretic | A person who holds controversial opinions. |
| Protestant | A Christian who opposed, or protested against, the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s; today a member of any Protestant church. |
| astronomy | The study of the planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies. |
| compass | A device showing the direction of the magentic north that is used to find geographical direction. |
| caravel | A sailing vessel developed in Europe which, because of its large size and triangular sails, allowed Europeans to safely sail greater distances. |
| geocentric theory | The idea that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun, stars, and planets revolved around the earth. |
| heliocentric theory | Based on Copernicus's ideas, the idea that all the planets moved around the sun. |
| telescope | An instrument for making distant objects, such as heavenly bodies, appear nearer and larger. |
| gravity | The force that causes objects to be pulled toward the center of the earth. |
| armada | A fleet of warships. |
| Parliament | The lawmaking body in Great Britain, made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. |
| Bill of Rights | A political document written by the English Parliament in 1689 that gave certain rights to citizens and limited the powers of the monarchy. |
| absolute monarchy | Rule by a monarch who has complete power to govern. |
| constitutional monarchy | A government headed by a king or queen whose powers are limited by a constitution. |
