Period 2 Important Terms

Absolute Monarchy

A form of government in which a single monarch has complete control over the government and is not bound by a constitution or laws.

Nobility

A social class that is typically granted privileges or titles based on heritage, often linked to land ownership and political power.

Aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by the nobility; often characterized by hereditary rule.

Enlightened Absolutism

A form of absolute monarchy that incorporates principles of the Enlightenment, such as rationality and empirical evidence, while retaining absolute power.

Westernization

The process of adopting Western ideas, culture, and technology, often leading to societal and political change.

Parliament

A legislative body in government, often comprising representatives elected by the populace.

Oligarchy

A form of power structure in which power resides in the hands of a small number of people.

Traditional Rights

Long-standing rights or customs that societies have historically recognized.

Louis XIV’s Dynastic and State Interests

The intertwining of personal and governmental ambitions of Louis XIV as he sought to enhance both his royal legacy and the power of the state.

Enlightened Ideas

Philosophical concepts that emphasize reason, scientific thought, and individual rights stemming from the Enlightenment period.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influence.

Legal status of women

The rights and entitlements allowed to women within a legal framework.

Revolutionary ideas

Concepts promoting significant change and upheaval in political, economic, or social systems.

Emperor

A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire.

Facade

An outward appearance or illusion, often used to cover up true intentions or realities.

New military tactics

Innovative strategies and methods in warfare designed to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Balance of power

A political theory that suggests a system should be established to prevent any one entity from gaining too much power.

Commercial Revolution

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

Market Economy

An economic system where decisions regarding investment, production, and distribution are guided by the interactions of citizens and businesses.

Mercantilism

An economic doctrine that emphasizes the role of the state in managing international trade to increase national wealth.

Transatlantic slave-labor

The forced migration and labor of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to work in the Americas.

Overseas products

Goods that are imported or exported from one country to another, typically from colonies or foreign nations.

Raw materials

Basic substances used in the production process to create finished goods.

Population growth

An increase in the number of individuals in a population.

Inoculation

The introduction of a vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.

Illegitimate birth rate

The rate of children born to parents who are not married to each other.

Rural/urban

Terms describing areas that are either countryside (rural) or city-based (urban).

Consumer Revolution

A period marked by an increase in the consumption of goods and services in society.

Commercial rivalries

Competition between businesses or nations for economic dominance and profit.

Natural Rights

Philosophical theory that individuals are inherently entitled to certain rights simply by being human.

Exclusion of women from political life

The practice of denying women participation in political processes and institutions.

Salons

Gatherings held in private homes where intellectuals discussed ideas and literature during the Enlightenment.

Literate public

A population that has a basic ability to read and write.

Divine Right

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God and are not accountable to their subjects.

Natural Sciences

Branches of science that study the physical world, including biology, chemistry, and physics.

Free trade and free market

Economic systems that allow for unrestricted trade and commerce between countries without government interference.

Deism

The belief in a rational God who created the universe but does not intervene in human affairs.

Skepticism

An attitude of doubt toward knowledge, facts, or beliefs that are commonly accepted.

Atheism

The absence of belief in the existence of deities.

Christian movements

Various groups or organizations within Christianity aimed at promoting religious beliefs and practices.

Baroque

An artistic style characterized by dramatic expression, vibrant colors, and grandeur.

Bourgeois Society

A social class characterized by ownership of wealth and property, often associated with commerce and industry.

Revolution

A significant change that usually occurs in a relatively short period; often associated with political or social upheaval.

Romanticism

An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism, reacting against rationalism.

Mass Politics

Political activity that encompasses a large segment of society and is often mobilized around mass movements.

Epidemic Diseases

Outbreaks of infectious diseases that spread rapidly and widely, typically affecting large numbers of people.

English Civil War

A series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 to 1651.

The Glorious Revolution

The 1688 overthrow of King James II of England by William of Orange and a parliamentary coalition.

Peace of Westphalia

The treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648, establishing a framework for national sovereignty.

Battle of Vienna

A 1683 battle where the Holy Roman Empire defeated the Ottoman Empire, marking the end of Ottoman expansion into Europe.

Rivalry between France and England

The ongoing competition and conflict between these two nations over territorial and colonial ambitions.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 to 1799, which influenced the course of modern history.

Reign of Terror

A period of the French Revolution marked by extreme violence and political purges from 1793 to 1794.

De-Christianization

Efforts during the French Revolution to reduce the influence of Christianity in public life.

Congress of Vienna

A conference held in 1815 to reorganize Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of significant agricultural development marked by improved crop yields and farming techniques.

Putting out system/Cottage Industry

A means of production in which goods are produced by individuals in their homes rather than at factory sites.

Scientific Revolution

A historical period from the 16th to the 18th century during which the development of modern science reshaped views of society and nature.

Smallpox

An infectious disease caused by the variola virus, historically significant for its high mortality rates.

Mortalities People

The rates or numbers of deaths within a specific population.

Louis XIV

The King of France from 1643 to 1715 known for his absolute monarchy and the phrase "L'état, c'est moi."

Jean Baptiste Colbert

The French minister of finance under Louis XIV who promoted mercantilism and economic reform.

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia known for his efforts to modernize and westernize Russia during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Catherine the Great

The Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796 who expanded Russian territory and embraced Western culture.

Hapsburgs

A prominent royal family in Europe, known for ruling the Holy Roman Empire and various territories including Austria.

Louis XVI

The last King of France before the French Revolution, executed in 1793.

Jacobin Republic

A radical political group during the French Revolution that advocated for democracy and equality.

Robespierre

A leading figure in the French Revolution known for his role in the Reign of Terror.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who helped abolish slavery in the colony of Saint Domingue.

Saint Domingue

The French colony that is now Haiti; site of a successful slave revolt leading to independence.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French military leader who became Emperor of the French and is known for his role in the Napoleonic Wars.

Voltaire

A French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher known for his advocacy of civil liberties.

Diderot

A French philosopher and writer best known for co-editing the Encyclopedia, which aimed to collect and disseminate knowledge.

Locke

An influential Enlightenment thinker whose ideas about government and individual rights greatly impacted modern democracy.

Rousseau

A philosopher and writer whose works inspired the French Revolution and contributed to modern political thought.

Adam Smith

An economist known as the father of modern economics, who advocated for free markets and capitalism.