Europe Final Example

What were the views of learned persons regarding the physical world in the mid nineteenth century?

Scientists saw science as a model of human knowledge.

Who is David Friedrich in the context of mid nineteenth century views of science?

He is associated with discussions about the life of Jesus and the historical evidence surrounding it.

What was the view of the Bible in Jewish society according to the notes?

The Bible was not considered an inspired book and was written by normal people, questioning its historical validity.

What is William Paley known for?

He is the author of 'Natural Theology' and argued that scientific examination of nature supports faith in God.

What did Paley assert about the creation of species?

He believed that God gave each species a finished and permanent form distinct from others and that creation occurred about 6,000 years ago.

What was Erasmus Darwin's contribution to evolutionary thought?

He published 'Zoonomia' and proposed that Earth existed millions of years before humans and that animals experienced modifications passed to their offspring.

What did Sir Charles Lyell's 'Principle of Geology' demonstrate?

It showed that the planet evolved slowly over time.

What was Robert Chambers' significant work and its main idea?

He published 'Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation', which presented evidence of extinction and progressive change in the organic world as shown in the fossil record.

What was the theory of Catastrophist geologists?

They preserved natural theology by proposing successive fixed creations, where each era was perfect when created but gradually declined.

What is the significance of Charles Darwin's 'Origin of Species'?

It introduced a mechanical interpretation of physical nature into the realm of living things.

Who was Alfred Russel Wallace and what was his contribution?

He was an independent evolutionary theorist who formulated the principle of natural selection.

What is the principle of natural selection?

It explains how species evolve over time, emphasizing that organisms with marginal advantages survive and propagate.

What are the implications of Darwin's theory for the concept of human uniqueness?

His theory suggested that nature operates without a guiding mind, implying that humans are a chance product and depriving them of a special status.

What skepticism arose about the morality of Christianity?

Concerns included immoral Bible stories and the character of the Old and New Testament gods.

What was the nature of the Second Reich's constitution?

It was characterized by sham democracy, limited legislative power, and an over-mighty executive.

What were the implications of industrialization for Germany?

Coal production increased significantly, leading to growth in various industries and urbanization, making Germany the second largest trading nation by 1914.

What was Bismarck's role in German politics?

He dominated the political system as the Iron Chancellor, focusing on resisting revolution and preserving the power of the Junker nobility.

What was the Kulturkampf?

It was a semi-ideological and semi-political struggle against the Roman Catholic Church, particularly in response to its opposition to militarism and liberalism.

What were the results of Bismarck's anti-Catholic legislation?

It ultimately strengthened the Church and increased the power of the Catholic Center Party.

What was the significance of the Berlin Conference?

It involved 15 nations, without African representation, and led to the division of Africa into 50 different countries under European powers.

What were the motivations behind German imperialism?

Economic interests, humanitarian concerns, racial nationalism, prestige, and strategic considerations.

What was Social Darwinism?

It describes the idea that humans compete and struggle for existence through natural selection.

What did Sir Francis Galton advocate regarding human heredity?

He argued for the importance of biological inheritance over environment and coined the term 'eugenics'.

What were the changes in family dynamics during the 19th century?

Late marriages, social pressures for men to delay marriage, and legal subjection of wives to husbands were prevalent.

What legal reforms improved women's rights in the 19th century?

The 1867 divorce court made divorce more accessible, and subsequent laws granted wives property rights similar to unmarried women.

What were the causes of the new imperialism?

The Industrial Revolution, nationalism, Social Darwinism, and advancements in transportation and communication.

Who was Mungo Park?

A pioneering Scottish explorer known for his expeditions in West Africa, particularly the true course of the Niger River.

What was the impact of the Scramble for Africa?

It involved the division of Africa among European powers, affecting 1/4th of the world's land area and 1/5th of its population.

What was the 'Red Spectre' during the Wilhelmine Era?

It referred to the fear of socialism and leftist movements during a time of financial crisis and aggressive nationalism.

Who was David Livingstone?

A renowned Scottish missionary, doctor, abolitionist, and explorer whose expeditions in Africa significantly impacted Western attitudes toward the continent.

What organization did David Livingstone initially work with when he went to Africa?

The London Missionary Society.

What was the purpose of David Livingstone's final expedition?

To find the source of the Nile.

Who was Stanley and what was he known for?

A Welsh-American explorer, journalist, and soldier renowned for his expeditions in Central Africa and his search for the missionary David Livingstone.

What significant geographical features did Stanley explore in Central Africa?

Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and the Congo River.

What role did Cecil Rhodes play in southern Africa?

He was a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician known for expanding British imperial interests in the region.

How did Cecil Rhodes impact the diamond trade?

He entered the diamond trade in Kimberley and systematically bought out and consolidated diamond mines.

What controversial policies did Cecil Rhodes implement?

Policies that disenfranchised black Africans and expanded British territorial control.

Who was William Graham Sumner and what concept did he coin?

A prominent American sociologist and economist known for his advocacy of Social Darwinism and for coining the term 'ethnocentrism'.

What does the term 'ethnocentrism' refer to?

The tendency to view one's own culture as superior to others.

What is hereditarianism?

The belief that genetic factors play a significant role in determining human traits and behaviors.

What ethical concerns are associated with hereditarianism?

It raises concerns regarding social policies and practices that downplay environmental influences.

Who was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and what theory did he propose?

A pioneering French naturalist who suggested that organisms could acquire characteristics during their lifetime and pass these traits to their offspring.

What was August Weismann's contribution to evolutionary biology?

He denied Lamarckism, arguing that acquired traits cannot be inherited, and proposed the germ plasm theory.

What is the significance of Walter Bagehot's writings?

He analyzed the British political system, particularly the roles of Parliament and the monarchy, and explored the relationship between social evolution and political institutions.

What organization did Charles Bradlaugh found and what was its aim?

He founded the National Secular Society (NSS) to promote secularism and challenge religious influence in public life.

What was Annie Besant known for?

She was a British social reformer, theosophist, and advocate for women's rights and Indian independence.

What is 'The Fruits of Philosophy' and who wrote it?

One of the first works advocating for birth control, written by Charles Knowlton in 1832.

Who was James Simpson and what was his major contribution to medicine?

A pioneering Scottish obstetrician known for introducing chloroform as an anaesthetic during childbirth.

What was Florence Nightingale's role during the Crimean War?

She organized care for wounded soldiers and is considered the founder of modern nursing.

Who was Elizabeth Garrett Anderson?

The first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain in 1865, significantly contributing to women's education and social reform.

What did Sophia Jex-Blake advocate for?

She campaigned for women's access to university education and played a crucial role in advancing women's medical education in the UK.

Who was Charlotte Heidenreich von Siebold?

The first female gynecologist in Germany, recognized for her pioneering work in gynecology and obstetrics.

What was the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)?

A prominent and militant organization campaigning for women's suffrage in the UK, known for its aggressive tactics.

Who was Emily Davison and what was her significance in the suffrage movement?

A prominent English suffragette known for her militant activism and for stepping onto the racetrack during the Epsom Derby.

What was the Cat and Mouse Act?

A law allowing the temporary release of suffragette prisoners whose health was severely affected by hunger strikes, only to be re-arrested later.