history final study guide

Enlightenment

A philosophical movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

Natural Laws

Principles observed in the natural world that govern behavior; questioned by philosophes regarding human institutions.

Secular Thinking

A perspective prioritizing logic and reason over religious doctrine in understanding societal structures.

Absolutism

A political system where a single ruler holds absolute power, often linked to divine right.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God and cannot be questioned by their subjects.

Estates-General

A legislative body in pre-revolutionary France, convened to discuss financial issues.

Cahiers

Reports of grievances from the people of France presented to the Estates-General.

Deficit Spending

When a government spends more money than it receives in revenue.

Intendants

Royal officials in France appointed by the king to govern districts and enforce tax laws.

Revolutionary Ideas

Concepts inspired by Enlightenment thinkers that influenced the French Revolution.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The motto of the French Revolution, encapsulating its core values.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by members of the Third Estate to not disband until a constitution was established.

National Assembly

The revolutionary assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate in France.

Jacobin

A radical political group during the French Revolution known for their progressive policies.

Girondists

Moderate political faction during the French Revolution that opposed the Jacobins.

Bastille

A fortress in Paris that was stormed on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

Émigrés

French nobles who fled the country during the Revolution, hoping for a restoration of the monarchy.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

A law passed in France that reorganized and regulated the Catholic Church.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A foundational document of the French Revolution, outlining individual rights and the principles of popular sovereignty.

First French Republic

The republic established in France in 1792, amid the turmoil of the Revolution.

Constitution

A system of fundamental principles according to which a state is governed.

Feudalism

A political and economic system in medieval Europe where land was held by nobles and worked by serfs.

Manorial System

An economic system structured around large estates where peasants worked the land.

Knights

Mounted warriors of the Middle Ages, bound by a code of chivalry.

Code of Chivalry

A moral system that combined the ideas of knighthood and Christian values.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of agricultural development marked by improved farming techniques and tools.

Commercial Revolution

A period of European economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism from the 11th to 18th centuries.

Guilds

Associations of artisans or merchants that controlled the practice of their trade in a particular area.

Middle Class

A social class between the upper and working classes, typically comprising professionals and businesspeople.

Machiavelli

A Renaissance political philosopher known for his work 'The Prince,' focusing on pragmatic principles of power.

Erasmus

A Dutch Renaissance humanist who criticized the Church and advocated for reforms.

Shakespeare

An English playwright and poet whose works had a profound influence on English literature.

Martin Luther

A German monk who sparked the Protestant Reformation by challenging the Catholic Church's practices.

Charlemagne

King of the Franks who unified much of Western Europe and was crowned Emperor in 800 A.D.

Treaty of Verdun

843 A.D. agreement that divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms.

Justinian's Code

A collection of laws and legal interpretations developed under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applied the concept of natural selection to social, political, and economic issues.

Renaissance

A cultural movement that originated in Italy, characterized by a revival of classical learning and art.

Humanism

An intellectual movement focusing on human potential and achievements, emphasizing the study of classical texts.

Il Duomo Cathedral

A stunning cathedral in Florence, Italy, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Don Quixote

A novel by Miguel de Cervantes that critiques chivalric ideals through the story of an idealistic knight.