European State Consolidation in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries

Flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on European State Consolidation in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.

What was the main goal of Peter the Great during his reign in Russia?

To transform Russia into a powerful military force and modernize its political, social, and economic structures.

How did Peter the Great change the relationship of the Russian Church to the state?

He radically changed it by establishing greater control of the state over the church, including abolishing the position of Patriarch.

What impact did the Great Northern War have on Russia?

It led to Russia gaining access to the Baltic Sea and establishing itself as a significant European power.

What characterized the Dutch Golden Age economically?

High urban consolidation, transformed agriculture, extensive trade and finance, and a seaborne empire.

What caused the decline of the Dutch Golden Age in the eighteenth century?

Political disunity, loss of naval supremacy to Britain, and stagnation in domestic industries.

What were the two models of political development in seventeenth-century Europe?

Parliamentary monarchy (England) and political absolutism (France).

What was the Glorious Revolution?

The largely peaceful takeover of the English throne by William and Mary in 1688, leading to constitutional monarchy.

How did Louis XIV consolidate his authority in France?

By establishing a central bureaucracy, subduing the nobility, and promoting the divine right of kings.

What was the significance of the Edict of Nantes, and what happened when it was revoked?

It granted religious freedoms to Huguenots; its revocation in 1685 led to persecution and the emigration of skilled Protestants.

What was the Table of Ranks established by Peter the Great?

A system that equated social position with rank in the state bureaucracy or military, encouraging service to the state.

What were the main struggles faced by the Habsburgs in central and eastern Europe?

Diverse territories, reliance on local nobility, and the need for cooperation among various ethnic and linguistic groups.

What did Peter the Great learn during his visit to western Europe?

He gained insights into military organization, shipbuilding, and governance that he later implemented in Russia.

What was the role of military power in the consolidation of Prussia?

Military strength was essential for the Hohenzollerns to unify their diverse territories and assert dominance in German politics.

What was the impact of Jansenism on the French monarchy?

It challenged the authority of the Crown and contributed to conflicts within the Church and nobility, leading to repression by Louis XIV.

How did the Glorious Revolution affect the power of the English monarchy?

It established constitutional monarchy, limiting the powers of the monarch and emphasizing the role of Parliament.

What was the Pragmatic Sanction?

A legal foundation created by Charles VI to ensure the succession of his daughter Maria Theresa as the ruler of Habsburg lands.

What were the significant factors that differentiated the outcomes of governance in England and France during the seventeenth century?

The success of parliamentary governance in England versus the establishment of absolute monarchy in France with limited checks on power.

What was the main outcome of the War of the Spanish Succession?

The Treaty of Utrecht, which confirmed the balance of power in Europe and limited French expansion.