Vocabulary From AP Euro

Absolute monarchy

A political system where a single ruler holds supreme authority, not bound by laws or constitutions.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of significant agricultural development marked by improved methods of farming and increased crop productivity.

Alchemy

A medieval chemical philosophy aimed at achieving the transmutation of base metals into gold and finding the elixir of life.

Alliance system

A formal agreement between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes, often for mutual defense.

Allied powers

The coalition of nations that opposed the Axis powers during World War I and World War II.

American isolationism

The foreign policy stance of the United States in the early 20th century focused on avoiding involvement in European conflicts.

Anabaptists

A Protestant sect that advocates for adult baptism and a separation from state influence in religious matters.

Anarchism

A political philosophy that advocates for a society without government or hierarchical authority.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews.

Appeasement

A diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding conflict by making concessions to an aggressor.

Arms race

A competition between nations to increase their military capabilities, often leading to escalating tensions.

Astrology

The belief in the influence of the movements and positions of celestial bodies on human affairs.

Atheism

The disbelief in the existence of God or gods.

Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy

The dualistic structure of the Austro-Hungarian Empire established in 1867, uniting the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austrian Empire.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by concentrated power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the electorate.

Autocracy

A system of government in which one person possesses unlimited power.

Axis Powers

The coalition led by Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates following World War II, particularly in the United States.

Bacon, Francis

An English philosopher and statesman known for developing the scientific method and his works on empiricism.

Balance of power

A political situation in which nations have roughly equal power, preventing any one nation from dominating others.

Balkans

A geopolitical region in Southeast Europe known for its diverse ethnic groups and historical conflicts.

Baroque art

An artistic style characterized by dramatic expression, opulent detail, and vivid colors, prominent in Europe from the 1600s to the 1750s.

Battle of Vienna

A key conflict in 1683 where the forces of the Holy Roman Empire repelled the Ottoman Turks, marking a turning point in the struggle between the two powers.

Birth control

Methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy during or following sexual intercourse.

Bismarck, Otto von

The Chancellor of Germany who unified the country through diplomacy and war in the late 19th century.

Blitzkrieg

A military tactic used by Germany during World War II involving rapid, coordinated attacks to achieve swift victory.

Bolshevik Revolution

The 1917 revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik party, resulting in the overthrow of the provisional government and establishment of the Soviet state.

Bonaparte, Napoleon

A French military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and became Emperor of the French.

Bourgeoisie

The middle class in society, typically referenced in discussions of capitalism and Marxist theory.

Breakup of Yugoslavia

The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s into several independent countries, marked by ethnic conflicts and wars.

Bureaucracy

A system of government or management characterized by strict rules, hierarchy, and a division of labor.

Calvin, John

A French theologian and key figure in the Protestant Reformation, known for his doctrine of predestination.

Capital

Financial assets or resources owned by individuals or corporations used for investment.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the creation of goods or services for profit.

Catherine the Great

Empress of Russia who reigned from 1762 to 1796, known for her extensive reforms and the expansion of the Russian Empire.

Catholic Reformation

A period of counter-reformation aimed at reforming the Catholic Church and responding to Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

Cavour, Count Camillo

An Italian statesman and leading figure in the unification of Italy during the 19th century.

Chauvinism

An exaggerated or aggressive form of patriotism or nationalist sentiment.

Child-rearing

The process of raising and educating children.

Christian humanism

A Renaissance movement that combined humanist principles with Christian beliefs.

Civic humanism

A form of humanism that emphasizes the importance of active citizenship and political engagement.

Classical texts

Literary and philosophical works from ancient Greece and Rome that are foundational to Western culture.

Colbert, Jean-Baptiste

A French statesman and finance minister under Louis XIV, known for his economic policies and promotion of mercantilism.

Cold War

The prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II.

Collapse of the USSR

The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, resulting in the independence of its constituent republics.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring and exploiting foreign territories for economic gain.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World after Columbus's voyages.

Commercial agriculture

Agriculture carried out primarily for sale in the market rather than for personal consumption.

Concert of Europe (Congress System)

A system of dispute resolution adopted by the major European powers in the early 19th century to maintain the balance of power.

Congress of Vienna

A conference of European powers held in 1814-1815 to restore order and stability in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

Conscious

The state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings or feelings.

Conservatism

A political and social philosophy that seeks to preserve traditional institutions and promote stability.

Consumer Revolution

A period in the 18th century characterized by an increase in consumer spending and the rise of a consumer culture.

Consumerism

A social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-greater amounts.

Copernicus

A Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system.

Council for the Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON)

An economic organization of communist states in Eastern Europe, established in 1949 to promote economic cooperation.

Council of Trent

A Roman Catholic ecumenical council held in response to the Protestant Reformation, aimed at reforming church practices.

Crimean War

A conflict from 1853 to 1856 between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia.

Cubism

An avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century characterized by fragmented and abstracted forms.

Cult of Domesticity

A 19th-century cultural belief that emphasized the role of women as homemakers and moral guardians of the family.

Cynicism

An attitude of skepticism and distrust toward human sincerity or integrity.

Darwin, Charles

A British naturalist known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, outlined in 'On the Origin of Species'.

De-Christianization

The process of reducing the influence of Christianity in society and its institutions.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gain independence from colonial powers.

Deduction

A method of reasoning from general premises to reach a specific conclusion.

Deism

Philosophical belief in a creator who does not intervene in the universe, often linked with Enlightenment thinking.

Democratic successor states

Countries that emerged from the dissolution of empires or authoritarian regimes that adopted democratic governance.

Descartes, Rene

A French philosopher and mathematician known for his statement 'Cogito, ergo sum' and emphasizing rationalism.

De-Stalinization

The process of political reform initiated by Nikita Khrushchev aimed at disassociating the Soviet Union from the policies of Joseph Stalin.

Determinism

The philosophical belief that all events, including human actions, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will.

Diderot, Denis

A French philosopher and writer known for his role in the Enlightenment and as co-founder of the Encyclopédie.

Disposable income

Income available for spending after taxes and essential living expenses have been deducted.

Divine right

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.

Eastern Europe

The eastern region of Europe, typically referring to countries that were under communist influence during the Cold War.

Ecclesiastical authority

The power or influence held by religious leaders or institutions.

Economic Miracle

A period of rapid economic growth, particularly following World War II in various European countries.

Edict of Nantes

A French decree that granted religious freedom to Protestants (Huguenots) in 1598.

Einstein, Albert

A theoretical physicist known for developing the theory of relativity and influential contributions to modern physics.

Elizabeth I

Queen of England from 1558 to 1603, known for her leadership during the Elizabethan era and the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

English Civil War

A series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists in England between 1642 and 1651.

Enlightenment

An intellectual and cultural movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of authority.

Enlightened absolutism

A form of absolute monarchy that incorporates principles of the Enlightenment, such as rational governance.

Erasmus, Desiderius

A Dutch philosopher and humanist whose works laid the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation.

Ethnic migrations

Movements of populations based on ethnic identity, often influenced by socio-political factors.

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)

An organization established in 1951 to oversee the coal and steel industries of its member states, a precursor to the European Union.

European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market)

A regional organization established in 1957 to create a common market for goods, services, people, and capital among its members.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries established to promote integration and cooperation.

Existentialism

A philosophical movement focused on individual existence, freedom, and choice.

Factory system

A method of manufacturing that began in the industrial revolution, where goods are produced in factories instead of homes.

Fascism

A political ideology that emphasizes authoritarian power, nationalism, and often a dictatorial leader.

Feminism

A social and political movement advocating for women's rights and equality.

Folk traditions

Cultural practices and expressions rooted in the customs of a particular community or culture.

Franco, Francisco

A Spanish general and dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975 after leading a nationalist uprising.

Free market

An economic system where prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

Free trade

International trade left to its natural course without tariffs or restrictions.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 to 1799 that ended the monarchy.

French Wars of Religion

A series of conflicts in France between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598.

Freudian psychology

A theory of psychology developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind.

Galen

An ancient Greek physician whose theories dominated medicine in the Western world for many centuries.

Galilei, Galileo

An Italian astronomer and physicist known for his contributions to modern science, including the telescope.