State Building and the Search for Order in the Seventeenth Century

These flashcards cover key concepts and significant events from the lecture on state building and order in Europe during the seventeenth century.

What did the Peace of Westphalia signify in Europe in 1648?

The end of religious wars and the establishment of the principle of state sovereignty.

Who embodied the concept of absolutism in France during the seventeenth century?

Louis XIV, known as the Sun King.

What was a key outcome of the Thirty Years' War?

The recognition of the sovereignty of over three hundred German states.

What did Peter the Great aim to achieve in Russia?

To modernize and westernize Russia, focusing on military and governmental reforms.

What marked the beginning of a constitutional monarchy in England?

The Glorious Revolution of 1688.

What was a significant cause of the witchcraft trials in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

Social upheaval and religious uncertainties.

What was the primary economic focus of Cardinal Colbert in France?

Mercantilism, aimed at increasing the wealth and power of France.

What did the Edict of Fontainebleau accomplish?

It revoked the Edict of Nantes and aimed to rid France of Protestantism.

How did absolutism manifest differently in England compared to France?

In England, monarchy was limited by Parliament, while in France, the monarchy held absolute power.

What was unique about Dutch painting during the seventeenth century?

It focused on realistic portrayals of everyday life, reflecting the interests of a prosperous burgher society.

Who served as the chief minister to Louis XIII and laid the foundation for French absolutism?

Cardinal Richelieu, who worked to eliminate the political and military rights of the Huguenots and humble the nobility.

What was the "Fronde" in seventeenth-century France?

A series of revolts by the French nobility and parliaments against the centralized power of the monarchy and Cardinal Mazarin.

How did Louis XIV use the Palace of Versailles to control the nobility?

He mandated their residence there, preoccupying them with court etiquette and rituals to distract them from political intrigue.

What was the primary goal of the "Intendant" system in France?

To use royal officials to execute orders in the provinces, thereby bypassing and weakening the influence of local nobles.

Which major conflict was fought over the succession to the Spanish throne between 1701 and 1713?

The War of the Spanish Succession.

What did the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) establish?

It ended the War of the Spanish Succession, ensuring that the French and Spanish thrones would never be united.

Define the "Divine Right of Kings."

The political and religious doctrine that a monarch's authority is derived directly from God and that they are not accountable to any earthly authority.

Who was the first Stuart king of England and what was his stance on monarchy?

James I, who strongly advocated for the divine right of kings, leading to friction with Parliament.

What specific event triggered the Thirty Years' War in 1618?

The Defenestration of Prague, where Protestant nobles threw Catholic imperial officials out of a castle window.

Which Swedish king is credited with innovating military tactics such as the use of mobile artillery?

Gustavus Adolphus.

What was the "Military Revolution" during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

A shift toward larger standing armies, increased use of firearms, and more complex, expensive fortifications.

How did the 1683 Siege of Vienna impact Europe?

It marked the end of Ottoman expansion into Central Europe after the Ottomans were defeated by a combined Christian force.

Who were the "Junkers" in Prussia?

The landed aristocracy who served as officers in the Prussian army and held significant power in the state bureaucracy.

What did Frederick William the Great Elector do to strengthen Brandenburg-Prussia?

He built a competent standing army and established the General War Commissariat to levy taxes for military growth.

What was the "Table of Ranks" introduced by Peter the Great?

A formal list of positions and ranks in the military, government, and royal court that based social status on service rather than lineage.

What was the outcome of the Great Northern War (1700–1721)?

Russia defeated Sweden, acquiring Baltic territories and establishing itself as a major European power.

What was the main cause of the English Civil War?

A struggle for power between King Charles I and Parliament over taxation, religion, and the extent of royal authority.

Who led the New Model Army and later became Lord Protector of England?

Oliver Cromwell.

What was the "Rump Parliament"?

The remaining members of Parliament after Cromwell purged those who did not support the trial and execution of Charles I.

What was the "Restoration" regarding English history?

The return of the monarchy in 1660 under Charles II after the collapse of Cromwell's Commonwealth.

Why was the Glorious Revolution considered "glorious"?

It was a relatively bloodless transition of power from James II to William of Orange and Mary II.

What were the core provisions of the English Bill of Rights (1689)?

It affirmed Parliament's right to make laws and levy taxes, and guaranteed certain rights to citizens, such as trial by jury.

How did Thomas Hobbes view human nature in his work "Leviathan"?

He viewed humans as naturally selfish and competitive, arguing that an absolute ruler was necessary to maintain order.

What was John Locke's argument regarding the purpose of government?

Government exists to protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property; if it fails, the people have a right to rebel.

What are the characteristics of Baroque art?

It is characterized by grandeur, sensual richness, drama, vitality, movement, and emotional exuberance.

Who was Gian Lorenzo Bernini?

A quintessential Baroque architect and sculptor known for completing Saint Peter's Basilica and "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa."

Which art movement preceded Baroque and was known for its distorted proportions and emotional intensity?

Mannerism, exemplified by artists like El Greco.

What did Peter the Great's "Holy Synod" accomplish in Russia?

It brought the Russian Orthodox Church under state control by replacing the patriarch with a committee of laymen.

How did the decline of the witchcraft trials relate to the Scientific Revolution?

A growing emphasis on rationalism and empirical evidence made people more skeptical of supernatural explanations for misfortune.

What were "Ship Money" taxes under Charles I?

A coastal defense tax that Charles I attempted to levy on inland counties without Parliamentary consent, fueling resentment.

Identify the primary source of wealth for the Dutch Republic in the 1600s.

International trade and shipping, controlled by the Dutch East India Company and the Bank of Amsterdam.

Define the term "Stadholder" in the context of the Dutch Republic.

An official elected by the provinces to lead the army and maintain order, often held by the House of Orange.

What was the "Sejm" in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth?

The central legislative body where a single "liberum veto" could stop all proceedings, leading to government paralysis.

Who was the French playwright famous for satirical comedies like "Tartuffe"?

Molière.

What was the significance of Peter the Great's "window on the West"?

The construction of St. Petersburg, a new capital on the Baltic Sea designed to facilitate contact with Europe.

Which English monarch was forced to sign the Petition of Right in 1628?

Charles I.

What did the Toleration Act of 1689 grant in England?

It granted right of free public worship to Protestant nonconformists, but not to Catholics or Unitarians.

What role did women play in the witchcraft trials?

Women, particularly the elderly and marginalized, were the primary targets, often accused during times of social stress.

What was the "Toleration Patent" of Joseph II (though later than 1648, it flows from these themes)?

An edict granting religious freedom to non-Catholics in the Austrian Empire.

What style of painting is Rembrandt van Rijn associated with?

The Dutch Golden Age, known for his masterful use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) and psychological depth.