The Ultimate AP European History Cheat Sheet - Part 1-2 - Renaissance & Reformation

Oct 13, 2026

Concise study guide for AP European History covering 1–2 Renaissance and Reformation themes through key individuals, ideas, and turning points. Traces how Italian and Northern Renaissance humanism, exploration, and printing shaped global exchange and European expansion, including the Columbian Exchange and mercantilist trade logic. Explains Protestant and Catholic reform movements, from Luther’s 95 Theses and Calvin’s predestination to Henry VIII’s break with Rome and the Counter-Reformation, ending with major conflict context.

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1-2: Renaissance & Reformation (c. 1450–1648)

Renaissance & Exploration

Protestant & Catholic Reformation

[The Ultimate AP European History Cheat Sheet](The Ultimate AP European History Cheat Sheet www.albert.io)[ www.albert.io](The Ultimate AP European History Cheat Sheet www.albert.io) | 1-2: Renaissance & Reformation (c. 1450–1648) | | --- | | | | ✓ Luther (faith alone) , Calvin (predestination) , Henry VIII (political) . Cntr-Reformation = Council of Trent, Jesuits. | | Renaissance & Exploration | | Italian Renaissance: Humanism, secularism, Machiavelli Prince. Art: perspective (Brunelleschi) , Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael. Northern: Erasmus, Thomas More Utopia. Printing press (1440s): Mass production books→Reformation spreads. Exploration: 3 G's (gold, God, glory) . Columbus (1492): Sailed Spain, Caribbean. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) splits New World. Portugal dominates Spice Trade via Africa route.
Columbian Exch.: Corn, potatoes → Europe; smallpox (devastating) , horses, cattle → Americas. Sugar fuels slave trade. Joint-stock companies: Shared risk & limited liability fueled global trade. Examples: Dutch VOC & British East India Comp. Mercantilism: Gold accumulation, trade surplus. Colonies supply raw mat. then buy ﬁnished goods. State-directed economy Mercantilist policies: Navigation Acts (Britain mandated colonial
trade via British ships) . Rivalry: Britain, France, Spain, Netherlands competed for colonies, markets.
Protestant & Catholic Reformation | | Martin Luther (1517): 95 Theses vs. indulgences. Sola ﬁde (faith) , sola scriptura (Bible alone) . Priesthood of all believers. John Calvin: Predestination (God chose pre-birth → salvation) . Calvin's Theocratic Geneva; Consistory rules. Henry VIII (Engl.): Broke Rome (1534) , Act of Supremacy (king ≥ church) .
Counter-Reformation: Council of Trent (1545–63): Reafﬁrmed doctrines, reformed indulgences. Jesuits (Loyola): Education, missions. Baroque art used to awe/inspire; faith + works.
St. Bart's Massacre (1572); Henry IV ('Paris is worth a Mass', ending the War of 3 Henrys) . Edict of Nantes (1598): France tolerated Huguenots (fortiﬁed cities) until 1685.
30 Years’ War (1618-48): Defenestration of Prague. Ends w/ Westphalia (Unit 3) . France↑ . Sweden↑ . Calvinism legal; HRE↓ . | | ⚠ Lutheran = ritual retained, Calvinist = ritual rejected, Anglican = political (not theological) split. Anabaptists = adult baptism. | | 3: Absolutism, Constitutionalism (c. 1648–1815) | | --- | | | | ✓ Westphalia (1648): Sovereignty = nation-state supreme over the church. Divine right ≠ accountable to subjects. | | Absolutist Monarchies | | Louis XIV (r. 1643–1715): Versailles (nobles domesticated via etiquette, pensions) . "L'État, c'est moi." Revokes Edict of Nantes. Revoked Edict Nantes (1685): Huguenots persecuted, ﬂed. War Spanish Succession (1701–14) exhausted France.
Peter the Great (r. 1682–1725): Westernized Russia. St.
Petersburg (1703): 'Window west. ' Table of Ranks tames boyars. Table of Ranks (1722): Military ≥ hereditary nobility (merit) . Frederick II (r. 1740–86): Enlightened despot. Reformed law, tolerance, education. Seized Silesia (war of Austrian Succession) .
English Constitutionalism & Power Balance | | English Civil War (1642–51): Cavaliers (royal) vs Roundheads (parliament) . Cromwell: Executed Charles I (1649) . Glorious Rev (1688): James II ﬂed (Catholic, absolutist) . William III & Mary II invited. Bill of Rights (1689): Parliament supreme, elections, tolerance. Constitutional monarchy born.
Balance of power doctrine: Alliances shift to prevent hegemons (France threatened → coalitions) . Grand Alliance vs. Louis XIV. Dutch Golden Age: Commerce, religious tolerance, art (Rembrandt) . Rivaled Britain, Spain; declined via wars.
War of Spanish Succession (1701–14): Prevented FrancoSpanish union (balance of power) . Utrecht gives Britain Gibraltar. Locke inﬂuence: Natural rights theory informed American Revolution, Enlightenment thought. Justiﬁes Glorious Rev (1688) . | | Aspect Absolutism Constitutionalism | | Authority Di

FAQs

What major Renaissance ideas and figures are highlighted in the guide?

The guide emphasizes Italian Renaissance humanism, secularism, and Machiavelli, plus art and scientific influence, including perspective and painters such as Leonardo and Michelangelo. It also notes Northern thinkers like Erasmus and Thomas More and the spread effects of the printing press.

How did exploration and the Columbian Exchange affect Europe and the Americas?

It frames exploration through the “3 G’s” (gold, God, glory) and the 1492 voyage, then explains the Columbian Exchange: European crops like corn and potatoes moving to Europe, while smallpox, horses, and cattle devastated and transformed the Americas.

What are the key points of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation?

It contrasts Luther’s faith-alone and Calvin’s predestination with Henry VIII’s political break from Rome. It then covers the Council of Trent and the Jesuits’ roles in education and missions, along with conflicts such as the St. Bartholomew’s Massacre and the Edict of Nantes.

Oct 13, 2026

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