• Basic concept common to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
• The doctrine of karma states that one's state in this life is a result of actions (both physical and mental) in past incarnations, and action in this life can determine one's destiny in future incarnations.

• A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and samsara.
• It represents the goal of Buddhism.

• (1542-1605)
• Emperor of the Mughal Empire in India, grandson of Babur.
• He is considered to be their greatest and most tolerable ruler as he appreciated the arts, writing, and learning.
• He is responsible for the expansion of his empire, the stability his administration gave to it, and the increasing of trade and cultural diffusion.

• (1389-1464)
• Italian merchant prince
• First Medici ruler starting in 1434.
• Served as banker to papacy and secured Florence's domination over Siena.
• Used inherited wealth to secure family's hold on political fortune.
• Managed to secure power through behind-the-scenes influence and a patronage of the arts to make Medici family one of the most powerful families in Florence.

• (1463-1494)
• Italian philosopher and humanist.
• Pico was the ideal Renaissance man, whose physical beauty reflected his inner harmony.
• celebrated 900 theses on a reconciliation of Christianity with Platonic philosophy
• Although attacked by the church, Pico's theses were an important symbol of the Renaissance blending of Christian and Greek ideas.
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Lorenzo de Medici

• (1449-1492)
• succeeded father Piero de' Medici as virtual ruler of Florence
• Created model humanist city for Italy
• Rebuilt University of Pisa and supported study of Greek philosophy and literature  in Florence at Platonic Academy

• (1452-1519)
• Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist
•  versatility and creative power, exemplified "Renaissance man"
• saw connections among all spheres of existence
• Mona Lisa, Last Supper

Michelangelo Buonarotti

• 1475-1564
• Italian sculptor, painter, poet during High Renaissance
• Lived with Medici family
• Works mainly in service of Catholic Church
• Sculpted "David"
• Painted Sistine Chapel

Baldassare Castiglione

• (1478-1529)
• Italian courier, diplomat, soldier, prominent Renaissance author
• Worked in service of princes in Mantua, Urbino, Rome
• Wrote Book of Courtier (definative account of Renaissance court life and is considered one of most important Renaissance works)

Girolamo Savanorola

• (1452-1498)
• Dominican friar
• Abbot of monastery of San Marco
• Although priests were not allowed political office, freed of Medicia, yielded much political control
• against moral decadence of upper classes  
• supported Charles VIII as moral savior of Florence
• arranged troops of children to collect cities "vanities"
• excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI, brutally killed

• Italian term defined in Castiglione's Book of the Courtier
• the undertaking of difficult tasks of courtier (support of king, entertaining and intelligent) as if efforlessly and with an attitude of nonchalance

• Modern term that distinguishes Renaissance Platonism from its Greek antecedents
• sought to reconcile humanism with Christianity 
• flourished in Italy as primary philosophy by which artists rationalized their more secular works

• the philosophical backbone of the Renaissance, emphasized potential for individual achievement and emphasized human capability for good and truth
• contributed to the promotion of a liberal arts education based on the study of the classics, rhetoric, and history 
• led to restudy of scriptures and fueled reformation

Sfumato

• process of blurring outlines in painting by subtle tonal variations so objects in foreground blend into background; smokiness
• hazy, dreamlike effect
• achieved by building up color of many layers of transparent oil paint called glazing
• Leonardo fused subject with landscape behind them by means of light

Nicolo Machiavelli

• (1469-1527)
• Niccolo Machiavelli was a political writer of the Renaissance who wrote "The Prince".
• describes the means by which a prince may gain and maintain his power
• Says prince has 3 alternatives for controlling a state: devastate it, live in it, or allow it to keep its own law though recommends devastation 
• Only most ruthless and strong rulers could impose order on Italian people.

John Calvin

• (1509-1564)
• French religious reformer who underwent religious conversion of extreme intensity
• "predestination" people are elected by God to salvation
• led to development of very conservative Geneva
• "original sin"
• extremely popular
• English followers became "Puritans" of Puritan colonies of North America