The Renaissance was a period of profound cultural rebirth in... Show more
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Siena Rodgers
11/19/2025
AP European History
AP European History Renaissance Notes
202
•
Nov 19, 2025
•
Comprehensive AP European History Renaissance Study Guide
Siena Rodgers
@sienarodgers_yojp
Renaissance Foundations and Key Developments
The clash between Scholasticism (focused on logic, theology, and reconciling Christianity with ancient philosophy) and Humanism (celebrating human capability and classical learning) defined intellectual life during the Renaissance. Humanist thinkers like Petrarch, Boccaccio, Erasmus, and More championed a return to classical texts while emphasizing human potential.
Renaissance society embraced new values: humanism, individualism, skepticism, and secularism. These shifts were partly triggered by the Black Death, which transformed European social structures by ending serfdom in Western Europe and weakening aristocratic power. This devastating plague (memorably described in Boccaccio's Decameron) also fueled religious extremism through movements like the Flagellants, who often persecuted Jews.
The Hundred Years War between England and France reshaped political boundaries and military tactics. England's longbow dominance at Agincourt gave way after Joan of Arc turned the tide for France, who later introduced cannons to European warfare. This conflict strengthened Parliament in England and sparked early nationalism in both countries.
Think About It: The printing press might be the most revolutionary technology in history. Before Gutenberg, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them incredibly rare and expensive. After the press? Ideas could spread like wildfire across Europe.
Technological innovations transformed Renaissance society. Gutenberg's printing press democratized knowledge by making books widely available, accelerating the spread of humanist ideas. In politics, Machiavelli established early political science through The Prince, arguing controversial ideas like "it's better to be feared than loved." Meanwhile, Castiglione's Book of the Courtier defined aristocratic ideals but revealed deep-seated sexism in Renaissance society.
Renaissance Literature, Politics and Legacy
Renaissance literature reflected the period's transformative ideas. Beyond Machiavelli and Castiglione, writers like Boccaccio used works such as The Decameron to criticize the Catholic Church. Christine de Pisan wrote City of Ladies as history's first feminist response to prevailing sexism, while Pico della Mirandola's Oration on the Dignity of Man perfectly captured Renaissance humanism. Thomas More's Utopia imagined an ideal society, and northern humanist Erasmus advocated for Church reforms.
The era saw the rise of "New Monarchies" that consolidated power across Europe. England's Tudor dynasty under Henry VII, France's Valois rulers under Louis XI who limited Church power, and Spain's unification under Ferdinand and Isabella (who also expelled Moors and forced conversions creating Moriscos and Marranos) all strengthened centralized authority. Meanwhile, the Hapsburg dynasty ruled the Holy Roman Empire under Charles V, managing 300 states through strategic marriage and nepotism.
To truly understand the Renaissance, we must see it in context. Following the Middle Ages and devastation of the Black Death, this "rebirth" represented a return to classical learning while establishing new values. These changes didn't happen overnight but evolved gradually as medieval Europe transformed.
Remember This: The Renaissance wasn't just about pretty paintings! It represented a fundamental shift in how people understood themselves and their place in the world. The individual human experience became valued in ways that would have been unthinkable during the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance left a lasting mark through its contributions to art, philosophy, politics, and science. By questioning traditional authority and celebrating human potential, Renaissance thinkers laid the groundwork for later movements like the Reformation, Scientific Revolution, and Enlightenment that would further transform Western civilization.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Comprehensive AP European History Renaissance Study Guide
Siena Rodgers
@sienarodgers_yojp
The Renaissance was a period of profound cultural rebirth in Europe following the Middle Ages. This era saw dramatic shifts in thinking, with new values emerging that would fundamentally change Western civilization. From the aftermath of the Black Death to... Show more
Renaissance Foundations and Key Developments
The clash between Scholasticism (focused on logic, theology, and reconciling Christianity with ancient philosophy) and Humanism (celebrating human capability and classical learning) defined intellectual life during the Renaissance. Humanist thinkers like Petrarch, Boccaccio, Erasmus, and More championed a return to classical texts while emphasizing human potential.
Renaissance society embraced new values: humanism, individualism, skepticism, and secularism. These shifts were partly triggered by the Black Death, which transformed European social structures by ending serfdom in Western Europe and weakening aristocratic power. This devastating plague (memorably described in Boccaccio's Decameron) also fueled religious extremism through movements like the Flagellants, who often persecuted Jews.
The Hundred Years War between England and France reshaped political boundaries and military tactics. England's longbow dominance at Agincourt gave way after Joan of Arc turned the tide for France, who later introduced cannons to European warfare. This conflict strengthened Parliament in England and sparked early nationalism in both countries.
Think About It: The printing press might be the most revolutionary technology in history. Before Gutenberg, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them incredibly rare and expensive. After the press? Ideas could spread like wildfire across Europe.
Technological innovations transformed Renaissance society. Gutenberg's printing press democratized knowledge by making books widely available, accelerating the spread of humanist ideas. In politics, Machiavelli established early political science through The Prince, arguing controversial ideas like "it's better to be feared than loved." Meanwhile, Castiglione's Book of the Courtier defined aristocratic ideals but revealed deep-seated sexism in Renaissance society.
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Renaissance Literature, Politics and Legacy
Renaissance literature reflected the period's transformative ideas. Beyond Machiavelli and Castiglione, writers like Boccaccio used works such as The Decameron to criticize the Catholic Church. Christine de Pisan wrote City of Ladies as history's first feminist response to prevailing sexism, while Pico della Mirandola's Oration on the Dignity of Man perfectly captured Renaissance humanism. Thomas More's Utopia imagined an ideal society, and northern humanist Erasmus advocated for Church reforms.
The era saw the rise of "New Monarchies" that consolidated power across Europe. England's Tudor dynasty under Henry VII, France's Valois rulers under Louis XI who limited Church power, and Spain's unification under Ferdinand and Isabella (who also expelled Moors and forced conversions creating Moriscos and Marranos) all strengthened centralized authority. Meanwhile, the Hapsburg dynasty ruled the Holy Roman Empire under Charles V, managing 300 states through strategic marriage and nepotism.
To truly understand the Renaissance, we must see it in context. Following the Middle Ages and devastation of the Black Death, this "rebirth" represented a return to classical learning while establishing new values. These changes didn't happen overnight but evolved gradually as medieval Europe transformed.
Remember This: The Renaissance wasn't just about pretty paintings! It represented a fundamental shift in how people understood themselves and their place in the world. The individual human experience became valued in ways that would have been unthinkable during the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance left a lasting mark through its contributions to art, philosophy, politics, and science. By questioning traditional authority and celebrating human potential, Renaissance thinkers laid the groundwork for later movements like the Reformation, Scientific Revolution, and Enlightenment that would further transform Western civilization.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user