10th Grade European History Final Exam - Vocabulary

Flashcards for 10th Grade European History Final Exam

Feudalism

The dominant social structure in the Middle Ages, based on land exchanged for service and protection.

Catholic Church (Middle Ages)

Had significant influence over political, economic, and social life during the Middle Ages.

Black Plague

Caused massive population loss and weakened Church authority in the Middle Ages.

Crusades

Increased trade and weakened feudal power structures during the Middle Ages.

Magna Carta

Limited the power of the monarchy and laid the foundation for parliamentary democracy in England.

Renaissance

A rebirth of classical knowledge, focused on individual achievement and non-religious life.

Humanism

Emphasized the study of humanities and the importance of human values.

Leonardo da Vinci/Michelangelo

Famous artists of the Renaissance.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Wrote 'The Prince', promoting realistic political thinking.

Printing Press

Invented by Johann Gutenberg, helped spread new ideas rapidly.

Reformation

Challenged Church authority and led to the creation of Protestant churches.

Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Criticized Church corruption and sparked widespread reform.

John Calvin

Taught predestination – the idea that God chooses who is saved.

Henry VIII

Broke from the Catholic Church and formed the Church of England.

Counter Reformation/Council of Trent

The Catholic Church's response to the Reformation.

Scientific Revolution

Promoted observation and experimentation.

Copernicus

Proposed the heliocentric model of the universe.

Galileo

Used the telescope to support the heliocentric theory.

Isaac Newton

Developed laws of motion and gravity.

Absolutism

A political system where absolute monarchs held total power over their states.

Philip II of Spain

Launched the failed Spanish Armada.

Louis XIV of France

Built the Palace of Versailles and ruled as the 'Sun King'.

Peter the Great

Modernized Russia and built St. Petersburg.

James I and Charles I

Clashed with Parliament, leading to the English Civil War.

Glorious Revolution

Resulted in William and Mary ruling under a constitutional monarchy.

The Enlightenment

Focused on using reason to improve government and society; challenged absolutism.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who advocated for natural rights: life, liberty, property.

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment Philosopher who believed people are naturally selfish and supported strong rulers.

Montesquieu

Advocated for separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

Voltaire

Advocated for freedom of speech and religion.

Rousseau

Advocated for general will and social contract.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocated for equal education for women.

Adam Smith

Advocated for laissez-faire capitalism and free markets.

French Revolution

Caused by social inequality, Enlightenment ideas, and financial crisis; ended absolute monarchy.

Estates System

French social hierarchy: 1st (Clergy), 2nd (Nobles), 3rd (Everyone else).

National Assembly and Declaration of the Rights of Man

Key outcomes of the initial phase of the French Revolution.

Reign of Terror

Led by Robespierre, thousands were executed.

The Directory

The weak government replaced by Napoleon.

Napoleon

Rose to power after the chaos of the French Revolution and became Emperor.

Napoleonic Code

Legal reform promoted equality (not for women).

Continental System

Napoleon's economic blockade against Britain.

Invasion of Russia (1812)

Napoleon's disastrous military campaign leading to massive losses.

Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon's final defeat in 1815.

Congress of Vienna

Redrew Europe and restored monarchies after Napoleon's defeat.

Industrial Revolution

Began in Britain due to natural resources, capital, labor, and political stability.

Agricultural Revolution

Helped increase food supply and population, setting the stage for industrialization.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and free markets.

Socialism

An economic system based on social ownership and control of production.

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating a classless society.

Karl Marx

A key thinker associated with socialism and communism.

Adam Smith

A key thinker associated with capitalism.

Italian Unification

Led by leaders like Mazzini, Cavour, and Garibaldi.

Giuseppe Mazzini

An idealist and leader in the Italian Unification movement.

Camillo Cavour

A strategist and leader in the Italian Unification movement, known for Realpolitik.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

A military leader in the Italian Unification movement, known for the Red Shirts.

Victor Emmanuel II

Became the first king of a unified Italy.

German Unification

Led by Prussia and Otto von Bismarck, using 'blood and iron'.

Otto von Bismarck

Used 'blood and iron'—war and Realpolitik—to unite German states.

Wilhelm I

Became the first Kaiser of the German Empire in 1871.

World War I

Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

MAIN (World War I)

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism: the four underlying causes of World War I.

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in World War I.

Triple Entente

France, Russia, and Britain in World War I.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's plan to invade Belgium and bring Britain into World War I.

Treaty of Versailles

Ended World War I and punished Germany.

Russian Revolution

Caused by food shortages, military defeats, and poor leadership during World War I.

Lenin

Led the Bolsheviks in the October (November) Revolution.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Introduced by Lenin, allowing some private enterprise to rebuild the Russian economy.

Totalitarianism

A political system controlling every aspect of public and private life.

Joseph Stalin

Established a totalitarian regime in the USSR.

Benito Mussolini

Rose to power in Italy and established a Fascist regime.

Adolf Hitler

Established a Nazi dictatorship in Germany.

World War II

Began in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland.

Axis Powers

Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War II.

Allied Powers

Britain, the USSR, and the U.S. in World War II.

The Holocaust

The genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities by the Nazis.

The Cold War

An ideological conflict between the capitalist West (led by the U.S.) and the communist East (led by the USSR).

Iron Curtain

The division between communist Eastern Europe and the capitalist West.

NATO

A military alliance of Western powers during the Cold War.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist states during the Cold War.

Berlin Wall

A barrier erected in 1961 dividing East and West Berlin; a symbol of the Cold War.

European Union (EU)

Created in 1993 to promote economic cooperation and prevent future conflicts in Europe.