Absolutism, Constitutionalism, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment

Phillip II

leader of Spain fought for Catholicism, very wealthy

Cardinal Richelieu

basically the ruler of France for Louis XIII, leader of the Catholic church

Louis XIV

became ruler after the death of his father Louis XIII, the "sun king", weakened noble's authority, Versailles

Maria Theresa

Charles VI's daughter, heir to his Hapsburg territories, fought Prussia

Frederick the Great

son of Frederick William, king of Prussia

Peter the Great

one of Russia's greatest reformers, increased his power as an absolute ruler

Charles I

caused the English Civil War with heavy taxes and fought Parliment

Oliver Cromwell

general, defeated Charles I, ruled England

What is the theory of an absolute monarch? What was their relationship to God?

The theory of an absolute monarch, or absolutism, said that kings or queens held all the power within state's boundaries. It was driven by divine right, the belief that God created the monarchy and the monarch acted as God's representative on Earth, and they only answered to God.

How did absolutism rise in this time period? What gave rulers incentives?

Absolutism rose in this time period to combat revolts caused by conflicts and taxes. Rulers wanted to increase their own power and free themselves from limitations such as the nobility and Parliament.

How did Louis XIV keep such a tight control on his country?

Louis XIV kept tight control on his country by controlling high-ranked nobles, by keeping them at his palace at Versailles. There, they had to fight for his attention over trivial things in return for favors.

Why did Louis XIV become militaristic? How did that go for him?

Louis XIV became militaristic to gain territory and power for France. He had minor victories in the beginning, but he eventually ran out of luck.

What was the Thirty Years' War fought over? Whit did it last so long?

The Thirty Years' War was fought over territory and power among European ruling families. It lasted so long because during the first half of the war, the Hapsburg armies were winning, then the French and Swedish helped reverse the defeats.

What are two ways Peter the Great tried to westernize Russia?

Two ways Peter the Great tried to westernize Russia were advancing education and raising women's status.

How did England become a constitutional monarchy?

England became a constitutional monarchy by drafting a Bill of Rights limiting the ruler's power.

scientific revolution

a change in European thought where scholars replaced old assumptions with new theories

scientific method

a logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas

Enlightenment

a new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems

social contract

an agreement where people give up their rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order, and create a government

salons

regular social gatherings in the mansions of Paris where aristocrats and intellectuals met and talked about philosophy and science

Galileo Galilei

an Italian scientist, built on theories of astronomy, was forced to agree that the ideas of Copernicus were false

Issac Newton

English scientist, studied the laws of physics, discovered the same force ruled motion of the planets and all matter on Earth and in space

Edward Jenner

produced the first vaccine, for smallpox, in the late 1700s

John Locke

believed people could learn from experience and improve themselves, philosopher

philosophes

French social critics in the 1700s

Voltaire

Francois Marie Arouet, philosopher, used satire, French, fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech

Montesquieu

studied political liberty, advocated for separation of power

Rosseau

committed to individual freedom, agreed with democracy

Mary Wollstonecraft

fought for women's education

Catherine the Great

ruled Russia from 1762-1796, reformed Russian government, expanded the Russian empire

Why did the heliocentric theory and the work of other astronomers challenge the church?

The hello centric theory challenged the church because Christianity taught that God placed the Earth at the center of the universe, and by saying was wrong about that, they were challenging the Church's authority

What scientific instruments were key to the Scientific Revolution?

Instruments that were key to the Scientific Revolution were microscopes, barometers, and thermometers.

What event influenced Hobbes' Leviathan?

The English Civil War convinced Hobbes that all humans were naturally selfish and wicked, which influenced the book.

What were Beccaria's ideas on the justice system?

Beccaria believed that laws existed to preserve social order, not to avenge crimes. He also opposed capital punishment and the death penalty.

What was one legacy of the Enlightenment?

One legacy of the Enlightenment was a belief that human reason could solve social problems.

What was the importance of Diderot's Encyclopedia?

Encyclopedia spread Enlightenment views across Europe.

What is the new style of art promoted by the Enlightenment? How did it differ from the Baroque style?

The new style of art was Neoclassical. Instead of grand, ornate designs, artists worked in a simple and elegant style that borrowed ideas and themes from classical Greece and Rome.

What a new writing style introduced in Europe during the Enlightenment?

A new writing style was the novel, which was a lengthy work of prose fiction.

What is an enlightened despot? Why is it kinda a stupid term?

An "enlightened despot" was an absolute ruler who only supported the Enlightenment to make their own countries stronger and their own rule more effective, but didn't intend to give up any power. One purpose of the Enlightenment was to get away from absolutism, so to be an absolute ruler and support the Enlightenment is hypocritical.