Video Notes: Absolutism, Reformation, Ottoman Empire, and Scientific Revolution

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from notes on Absolutism, Reformation, Ottoman Empire, and the Scientific Revolution.

Absolutism

A political doctrine where the sovereign holds centralized, unlimited power, often justified by divine right; exemplified by monarchies like Louis XIV's France.

30 Years' War

A large European conflict (1618–1648) primarily in the Holy Roman Empire, driven by religious and political tensions; ended with Peace of Westphalia establishing state sovereignty.

Louis XIV

French king (reigned 1643–1715) who centralized power, built Versailles, and epitomized absolute monarchy.

Glorious Revolution

1688 event in England that established parliamentary supremacy and a constitutional monarchy under William III and Mary II.

Copernicus

Polish astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model, initiating a shift in the Scientific Revolution.

Elizabeth I

Queen of England (1558–1603) who solidified the Protestant church settlement and defeated the Spanish Armada.

Mehmed II

Ottoman sultan who conquered Constantinople in 1453, expanded and centralized the empire, and utilized early gunpowder siege warfare.

Atlantic Trade Triangle

Triangular trade system linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas; goods to Africa, enslaved people to the Americas, and commodities to Europe.

John Calvin

Protestant reformer who advanced Calvinism, predestination, and a theocratic vision for Geneva.

Martin Luther

Initiator of the Protestant Reformation; posted the 95 Theses advocating justification by faith and Scripture over Church authority.

Cardinal Richelieu

French statesman who strengthened royal power and pursued anti-Habsburg policies under Louis XIII.

Huguenots

French Protestants who faced persecution amid religious conflicts and played a significant role in early modern Europe.

Charles II

King of England during the Restoration (1660–1685); royalist restoration with tensions between monarchy and Parliament.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War; served as Lord Protector during the Commonwealth.

Suleyman the Magnificent

Ottoman sultan whose reign marked the empire’s height in territory and cultural flourishing; legal reform and strong central authority.

Slavery

System of human bondage shaping the economies of Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including the transatlantic slave trade.

Peace of Westphalia

1648 treaties ending the Thirty Years' War; established state sovereignty and laid groundwork for modern international order.

Versailles

Louis XIV's grand palace and administrative center; symbol of French absolutism and centralized state power.

Ignatius of Loyola

Founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits); key figure in the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

Isaac Newton

Scientist of the Scientific Revolution known for laws of motion, universal gravitation, and foundational work in calculus.

Defenestration of Prague

1618 incident in which officials were thrown from a window, triggering the Bohemian Revolt and part of the Thirty Years' War.

English Civil War

Conflict (1642–1651) between Royalists and Parliamentarians over governance and royal authority.

Janissary

Elite Ottoman infantry unit recruited through the devshirme system and renowned for loyalty to the sultan.

Topkapi Palace

Ottoman imperial residence and administrative center in Istanbul symbolizing sovereign power.

Protestant Reformation

16th-century religious reform movement challenging papal authority; led by figures like Luther and Calvin and resulted in new Protestant churches.

Catholic Counter-Reformation

Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation, including reforms, Council of Trent, and Jesuit missions.

Scientific Revolution

Period of major advances in science (roughly 16th–18th centuries) emphasizing empirical methods, mathematics, and new worldviews.

Devshirme

Ottoman policy of recruiting Christian boys to serve as Janissaries or administrators.

Sack of Constantinople (1453)

Fall of Constantinople to Mehmed II, signaling the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Byzantine Empire.

James I

First Stuart king of England; advocated the divine right of kings and clashed with Parliament.

Charles I

Son of James I; his attempt to rule without Parliament led to the English Civil War and his execution.

William and Mary

Joint rulers installed after the Glorious Revolution; established a constitutional monarchy with limited royal authority.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued for natural rights and government as a social contract; influential on liberal political theory.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher who argued for a powerful sovereign in Leviathan to prevent chaos; foundational to social contract theory.