Western Civilization Final Exam Study Guide

Flashcards for Western Civilization Final Exam Study Guide

Printing Press

Invented by Gutenberg, the printing press facilitated the spread of new ideas during the Reformation.

Martin Luther's Beliefs

Salvation by faith alone, the Bible as the sole authority, and the priesthood of all believers.

Luther's 95 Theses

A list of propositions for debate concerned with indulgences, questioned the Catholic Church.

Diet of Worms

An assembly where Martin Luther was asked to recant his writings; he refused.

John Calvin's Beliefs

Predestination, where God has predetermined who will be saved.

Henry VIII's Break from the Catholic Church

Wanted to annul his marriage and remarry to produce a male heir.

Catholic/Counter Reformation

The Catholic Church's attempt to reform itself and undermine the Protestant Reformation.

Ignatius of Loyola/Mission of Jesuits

Founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), focused on education and missionary work.

Council of Trent

An ecumenical council of the Catholic Church that addressed reforms and clarified doctrine.

Index of Forbidden Books

A list of books banned by the Catholic Church.

Edict of Nantes

Granted religious freedom to Huguenots (French Protestants) in France.

Treaty of Westphalia

Ended the Thirty Years' War and established the modern state system.

Causes of the Thirty Years War

Religious divisions, political rivalries, and power struggles in the Holy Roman Empire.

Effects of the Thirty Years War

Devastation of German states, decline of the Holy Roman Empire, and rise of France as a dominant power.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and free markets.

Mercantilism

An economic system focused on accumulating wealth through trade and colonies.

Elizabeth I's Solutions to Problems

Established religious compromise and promoted economic growth in England.

Philip II's Challenge to Elizabeth

Sent the Spanish Armada to invade England.

Charles I's Conflicts

Upset Parliament and the Puritans with his absolutist policies.

Oliver Cromwell

Led the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War.

Fate of Charles I

Executed by Parliament for treason.

James II's Actions

Upset Parliament with his pro-Catholic policies.

Glorious Revolution

The overthrow of King James II of England by William and Mary.

English Bill of Rights

Guaranteed basic rights and limited the power of the monarchy.

Absolutism

A political system in which the ruler has unlimited power.

Versailles' Importance to Louis XIV

Symbolized Louis XIV's power and grandeur.

Peter the Great's Accomplishments

Westernized Russia, modernized the army, and expanded the empire.

Scientific Revolution

A period of great intellectual and scientific advancement that changed the way people viewed the world.

Copernicus

Developed the heliocentric theory, which states that the sun is the center of the solar system.

Kepler

Discovered the laws of planetary motion.

Galileo

Made significant improvements to the telescope and provided evidence supporting the heliocentric theory.

Newton

Developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

John Locke

Argued for natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and limited government.

Thomas Hobbes

Advocated for absolute sovereignty in Leviathan.

Voltaire

Championed freedom of speech and religious toleration.

Montesquieu

Proposed the separation of powers in government.

Rousseau

Advocated for social contract theory and the general will of the people.

Denis Diderot

Edited the Encyclopedia, a compilation of Enlightenment ideas.

Rene Descartes

Developed analytical geometry and emphasized the importance of reason and deduction.

Adam Smith

Advocated for free markets and capitalism in The Wealth of Nations.

Isaac Newton

Developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocated for women's rights and equality.

Salons

Social gatherings where Enlightenment ideas were discussed.

The Enlightenment

An intellectual and philosophical movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and human rights.

French Revolution inspiration

Inspired by the Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The Old Regime

The political and social system in France before the French Revolution.

Louis XVI

King of France during the French Revolution, eventually executed.

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France during the French Revolution, also executed.

Three Estates

The social classes in France: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Estates General

An assembly of representatives from all three estates in France.

National Assembly

A revolutionary assembly formed by representatives of the Third Estate.

Tennis Court Oath

An oath taken by members of the National Assembly to create a constitution.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A document that proclaimed the rights of citizens during the French Revolution.

The Bastille

A prison stormed by revolutionaries, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution.

Reign of Terror

A period of violence during the French Revolution led by Robespierre and the Jacobins.

Robspierre

Led the radical Jacobin faction during the French Revolution and implemented the Reign of Terror.

The Guillotine

An instrument used for execution by beheading during the French Revolution.

The Committee of Public Safety

A committee that ruled France during the Reign of Terror.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Came to power in France after the French Revolution and established a vast empire.

The Directory

The government that ruled France before Napoleon's coup.

Napoleon's downfall

The Continental system, Invasion of Russia, the 100 days.

Napoleonic Code

A legal code established by Napoleon that influenced legal systems in many countries.

Congress of Vienna

A conference of European powers to restore the balance of power after Napoleon's conquests.

Enclosure Movement

The consolidation of common lands into private ownership.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of significant agricultural advancements that led to increased food production.

Industrial Revolution

Began in England, a period of major technological and economic changes that began in the late 18th century.

Unions

Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and interests.

Labor Laws

Laws enacted to protect workers and regulate working conditions.

Communism

A political and economic system in which private property is abolished and goods are owned in common.

Marx and Engels

Developed the theories of communism and socialism.

Socialism

A political and economic system in which the means of production are owned collectively.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, diplomacy, or military force.

Social Darwinism

The belief that certain races or nations are superior to others.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country.

Realpolitik

A political philosophy focused on practical considerations rather than ideology.

Otto von Bismarck

Used realpolitik to unify Germany.

Kaiser Wilhelm I

Became the emperor of a unified Germany.

Italy unification

Unified in the 19th century through the efforts of Mazzini, Cavour, Garibaldi, and Victor Emmanuel.

Mazzini

Italian politician, journalist, activist for the unification of Italy.

Cavour

Leading figure in the Italian unification.

Garibaldi

Italian general, politician and nationalist who played a large role in the history of Italy.

Victor Emmanuel

King of Sardinia, Piedmont and Savory until he was crowned the first king of a unified Italy.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

German Emperor during World War I.

Causes of World War I

Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Triple Entente/Allied Powers

Great Britain, France, and Russia.

Triple Alliance/Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (later the Ottoman Empire).

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's plan to quickly defeat France and then turn east to face Russia.

Battles of Verdun, the Somme, Gallipoli

Significant battles of WWI characterized by heavy casualties and little strategic gain.

U-boats/Submarines

Military submarines deployed by the German during war.

Zimmerman Telegram

A message from Germany to Mexico that proposed an alliance against the United States.

Problems Russia Faced

Poverty, food shortage, and government corruption.

Trigger of Russian Revolution

WWI exacerbated Russia's problems and led to the Russian Revolution.

February Revolution

Overthrew the Tsarist autocracy and established a provisional government.

October Revolution

Led by the Bolsheviks, overthrew the provisional government

Kerensky

Served as the second prime minister of Russian Provisional Government

Trotsky

Russian Marxist revolutionary.

Lenin

Led the October Revolution and established a communist government in Russia.

Bolsheviks

Radical Russian Marxist revolutionaries.

Russian Revolution Result

Russia became the USSR under Stalin

Wilson's 14 Points

A set of principles for peace after WWI that included self-determination and the League of Nations.