HIST 112 Western Civilization Midterm Exam Study Guide

Absolutism

A political system in 17th-18th century Europe where a single monarch holds ultimate, unchecked, and divinely sanctioned power over the state and subjects, characterized by centralized administration, a standing army, and control over religion and economy.

Louis XIV

Known as the 'Sun King,' he ruled France from 1643 to 1715, personifying absolutism with his statement 'L'état, c'est moi' (I am the state).

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685)

Louis XIV's act that forced Huguenots (French Protestants) to convert to Catholicism or flee, asserting religious uniformity under the crown.

Charles I

English monarch who faced significant opposition from Parliament over taxation and royal prerogatives, leading to the English Civil War (1642-1651).

Ship Money

A tax levied by Charles I without parliamentary consent, which became a major point of contention leading to the English Civil War.

English Civil War (1642-1651)

Conflict between Royalists (Cavaliers, supporters of Charles I) and Parliamentarians (Roundheads), stemming from disagreements over governance, religious policy, and royal power.

Outcomes of English Civil War

Execution of Charles I, establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell, and eventually the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 with Parliament gaining significant power.

Oliver Cromwell

Led the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, established the Commonwealth, and ruled as Lord Protector during the Protectorate (1649-1660).

Constitutional Monarchy

A system of government where the monarch's power is limited by law and Parliament, emerging in England after the Glorious Revolution.

Enlightenment

A 17th-18th century European intellectual and cultural movement emphasizing human reason, scientific inquiry, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who advocated for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government by consent of the governed in Two Treatises of Government. Conceptualized tabula rasa.

Tabula Rasa

A concept by John Locke, meaning 'blank slate,' referring to the idea that humans are born without innate knowledge or ideas.

Voltaire

Enlightenment philosopher, fierce critic of religious intolerance, censorship, and arbitrary power; advocated for freedom of speech and religion (e.g., Candide).

Rousseau

Enlightenment philosopher who promoted the idea of the social contract and the 'general will' of the people in The Social Contract. Also discussed the 'noble savage' concept.

American Revolution (1775-1783)

Colonial opposition to British taxation without representation, inspired by Enlightenment ideals, leading to the formation of a republic with a written constitution and Bill of Rights.

Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

A unique slave revolt against French colonial rule, sparked by Enlightenment ideals, leading to the establishment of Haiti as the first independent Black-led republic.

Toussaint Louverture

A key leader of the Haitian Revolution, instrumental in the fight for independence and the establishment of Haiti.

French Revolution (1789-1799)

Precipitated by social inequality, economic hardship, and financial crisis; ended absolute monarchy and feudalism, leading to a republic, the Reign of Terror, and eventually the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Witchcraft Accusations (1450-1750)

A period of widespread accusations reflecting societal fears, religious anxieties, economic instability, and gender biases, which declined with the rise of rational thought.

Geocentric Theory

The long-held Ptolemaic model, supported by the Church, positing Earth as the stationary center of the universe.

Heliocentric Theory

Proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543, this theory placed the Sun at the center of the universe with Earth and other planets orbiting it, later supported by Galileo and Kepler.

Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was the scientist who proposed the heliocentric theory in 1543, placing the Sun at the center of the universe.

Deism

An Enlightenment religious belief emphasizing reason and observation to deduce a creator God ('watchmaker God') who designed the universe but does not intervene in its affairs.

Enlightenment Ideals

Core tenets include the importance of reason, critical thinking, individual rights (e.g., freedom of speech, assembly, property), and the emergence of secular thinking in governance.

Abolition of Slave Trade

Fueled by Enlightenment thinkers emphasizing universal human rights and dignity, leading to significant movements against the institution of slavery.

Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792

A foundational work by Mary Wollstonecraft arguing for women's rights, particularly in education, influenced by Enlightenment ideals.

Estates General

A legislative assembly of the different classes (estates) of French subjects, whose convocation in 1789 contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution.