AP Euro: Unit 4 Study Guide - Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments

A collection of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and their cultural implications.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Believer of heliocentrism who wrote The Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres.

Heliocentrism

The astronomical model in which the sun is at the center of the universe.

William Harvey

Confirmed that blood originates from the heart; wrote On the Motion of Heart and Blood.

Scientific Method

Systematic approach to inquiry emphasizing empirical evidence, experimentation, and formulating hypotheses.

Empirical observation

Verification through observation and experience.

Inductive reasoning

A method of reasoning that starts with specific observations and generalizes to broader principles.

Deductive reasoning

A method of reasoning that starts with general principles and moves to specific cases.

Deism

Belief that God created the universe but does not intervene in its affairs.

The Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, empiricism, skepticism, and natural law.

Tabula Rasa

The idea that the mind is a blank slate at birth and knowledge comes from experience.

Physiocrats

French intellectuals who believed land is the only true source of wealth.

Laissez-faire

Economic doctrine that opposes government intervention in markets.

Cesarre Beccaria

Advocated for the abolition of the death penalty; believed punishments should deter crime.

Diderot’s Encyclopedia

A comprehensive organization of human knowledge aimed at reducing religious influence on knowledge.

Baroque Art

Art that emphasizes power and intense displays of movement and emotions.

Rococo Art

Art characterized by softness, grace, and a focus on secular themes.

Pietism

A religious revival emphasizing a rational form of Christianity and personal experience.

Enlightened Despots

Absolute rulers who embraced Enlightenment principles, including reforms in education and tolerance.

Jean-Jaques Rousseau

Philosopher who believed children are innately good and should be nurtured.

Mary Wollstonecraft

An early advocate of women's rights, arguing that women are not naturally inferior to men.