New World Encyclopedia integrates facts with values. Written by certified experts.
Painting by Evaristo Baschenis of Baroque instruments, including a cittern, viola da gamba,
violin, and two lutes
describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750 for a discussion of the problems inherent in defining the beginning and end points). This era is said to begin in music after the
Renaissance and to be followed by the
Classical music era. Since Baroque listeners did not want any more "old-fashioned" music from the
Renaissance period, composers and musicians realized the importance of music as a main source of entertainment.
The
papacy is the office of the
pope (from
Latin: "papa" or "father"), the bishop of Rome, who is the leader of the
Roman Catholic Church and head of state of
Vatican City. The pope's ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the "
Holy See." His importance is largely derived from his role as the traditional successor to
Saint Peter, to whom
Jesus gave the keys of heaven, naming him as the "rock" upon which the church would be built. Today, the pope is the leader of the largest organized body of religious believers of the world, and arguably the single most powerful voice in moral and spiritual affairs.
Kanji are the Chinese characters used in the Japanese writing system (source: Kanji)
