Chapter 18: Europe in Crisis and the Age of Absolutism

Practice flashcards reviewing Chapter 18 notes on European crises, religious conflicts, the rise of absolutism, the Glorious Revolution, and the cultural movements of the 16th and 17th centuries.

By 1560, which two religious movements had become highly militant?

Calvinism and Catholicism.

How did King Philip II of Spain attempt to consolidate and strengthen his control?

He insisted on strict conformity to Catholicism and strong monarchical authority.

What occurred in the Spanish Netherlands as a result of Philip II's attempts to strengthen his control?

Resentment and opposition arose from Dutch nobles, leading the northern provinces to form the United Provinces of the Netherlands, which became the core of the modern Dutch state.

What major religious policies did Queen Elizabeth I implement after ascending the English throne in 1558?

She moved quickly to resolve religious problems inherited from her Catholic half-sister, repealed laws favoring Catholics, firmly established Protestantism, and maintained a moderate foreign policy.

What was the Spanish Armada, and what was Philip II's goal in launching it in 1588?

The Spanish Armada was a fleet of warships sent to invade England in order to overthrow Queen Elizabeth and eradicate Protestantism.

How did the defeat of the Spanish Armada alter the balance of power in Europe?

It marked the decline of Spanish naval dominance and great power status (leaving Spain bankrupt despite being the most populous empire) and shifted real power toward England and France.

Who were the Huguenots, and what proportion of France's population did they represent?

They were French Protestants influenced by John Calvin, making up about 7% of the French population.

How did Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) bring an end to the French Wars of Religion?

He converted from Protestantism to Catholicism and issued the Edict of Nantes in 1589.

What were the key provisions of the Edict of Nantes?

It recognized Catholicism as the official religion of France while granting Huguenots the right to worship freely and enjoy political privileges, such as holding public office.

What is inflation, and what factors caused it in Europe during the 1500s and 1600s?

It is a rapid increase in prices; it was driven by an influx of American silver and rapid population growth, which hurt wage earners and peasants while benefiting landowners.

What caused the European population to decline after 1620 following a century of growth?

Warfare, plague, and famine.

Why were poor, propertyless common people the most frequent targets of witchcraft accusations?

Shifting economic systems intensified local competition for resources, heightening tensions that fueled witchcraft hysteria.

How did the Thirty Years' War begin in 1618?

It began in the Holy Roman Empire as a conflict between Catholic forces led by the Hapsburg emperors and Protestant nobles in Bohemia, which quickly drew in foreign powers due to combined religious, political, and territorial motives.

What were the major territorial and political outcomes of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648?

It ended the Thirty Years' War, awarded new territories to Sweden, France, and their allies, and divided more than 300 Holy Roman Empire states into independent entities free to choose their religion and conduct foreign policy.

What circumstances prompted English nobles to invite William of Orange to invade England in 1688?

King James II alienated Protestants and Parliament by attempting to expand royal and Catholic power, and the birth of his Catholic son in 1688 raised fears of an enduring Catholic dynasty.

Why was the English revolution of 1688 referred to as the 'Glorious Revolution'?

Because almost no bloodshed occurred: James II's troops deserted, his daughter defected, and he fled to London and escaped without a fight.

What constitutional principles were established by the English Bill of Rights in 1689?

It prohibited absolute monarchy, affirmed Parliament's sole right to make laws and levy taxes, barred standing armies without parliamentary consent, and established a system founded on the rule of law and a freely elected Parliament.

What is absolutism, and how did monarchs justify it using the divine right of kings?

Absolutism is a political system where a ruler holds total power; monarchs justified it by asserting they received their authority directly from God and were responsible to no one except God.

At what age did Louis XIV assume sole personal control of the French government?

At age 23, following the death of Cardinal Jules Mazarin in 1661.

What three core purposes did the palace court of Versailles serve under Louis XIV?

It served as the personal household of the king, housed the chief offices of the state, and functioned as the venue where powerful subjects came to seek royal favors and offices.

How did Louis XIV ensure his policies were enforced locally despite having limited direct authority at the provincial level?

He bribed important figures and local officials in the provinces.

What was the state of France upon the death of Louis XIV in 1715?

He left France surrounded by enemies and large segments of the French populace living in poverty.

Which Spanish monarch's rule came closest to absolute monarchy, and what caused Spain's continued decline during that era?

Philip IV; his expensive military campaigns triggered widespread revolts and sealed Spain's decline as a great power.

Where did the Austrian Hapsburgs establish a new empire after their imperial ambitions in Germany failed?

In eastern and southeastern Europe, centered around the core territories of modern Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.

What are the primary characteristics of the Mannerist artistic movement?

Emerging in Italy during the 1520s and 1530s, Mannerism rejected Renaissance principles of balance, harmony, and proportion, using elongated figures to depict suffering, heightened emotion, and religious ecstasy.

How did the works of the Greek-born artist El Greco reflect the historical era in which he painted?

Working in Spain after studying in Venice, his dramatic and elongated figures captured the psychological tension, turmoil, and religious upheaval of the Reformation.

What defined Baroque art, and why did the Catholic Counter-Reformation enthusiastically embrace it?

It featured complex forms, bold ornamentation, and dramatic contrasting effects designed to arouse deep emotions, inspire awe, and promote religious devotion.

Which two composers perfected the Baroque musical style in the early 18th century?

Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.

How did London theaters like the Globe reflect the broad social spectrum of Elizabethan England?

With capacity for 3,000 spectators and low admission prices, the Globe allowed lower-class citizens to attend alongside lawyers, merchants, and nobility, leading playwrights to craft works that appealed to all social classes.

What genres of drama and forms of poetry did William Shakespeare produce?

He wrote tragedies (such as Hamlet and Macbeth), comedies (such as A Midsummer Night's Dream), and histories, as well as narrative poems (Venus and Adonis) and 14-line love sonnets.