Key Terms and Events of European History

These flashcards feature key terms and definitions related to significant events, figures, and concepts in European history, aimed to help with exam preparation.

Cromwell

A leader of the English Civil War who became Lord Protector of England.

Levellers

A political movement during the English Civil War advocating for popular sovereignty and social equality.

the Restoration

The period in 1660 when the monarchy was restored in England after the English Civil War.

Test Act

An Act of Parliament that required all officeholders to be members of the Church of England.

James II

King of England whose reign led to the Glorious Revolution due to his Catholicism.

Glorious Revolution

The 1688 overthrow of King James II of England, replaced by William III and Mary II.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher known for his work 'Leviathan', advocating for a strong central authority.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued for natural rights and government by consent of the governed.

Bill of Rights

The 1689 act that limited the powers of the monarchy and outlined the rights of Parliament.

Mannerism and El Greco

A style of art characterized by exaggerated emotion, especially as seen in the works of El Greco.

Baroque

An artistic style known for its grandeur, drama, and movement.

Rembrandt van Rijn

A Dutch painter and etcher, considered one of the greatest painters in European art.

William Shakespeare

Renowned English playwright and poet, known for works such as 'Hamlet' and 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Racine and Moliere

French playwrights known for their contributions to classical French theater.

Great Northern War

A conflict in which Russia, Denmark-Norway, and Saxony fought against Sweden.

Poland's Sejm

The legislative assembly of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

the house of Orange

A royal family in the Netherlands that played a significant role in Dutch politics.

Peace of Utrecht

A series of treaties signed in 1713 that ended the War of the Spanish Succession.

the Hohenzollerns

A dynastic family that ruled Brandenburg-Prussia and later the German Empire.

Treaty of Karlowitz

The 1699 treaty that ended the war between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League.

the Romanovs

The last imperial dynasty of Russia, ruling from 1613 until 1917.

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia who modernized the country and expanded its territory.

English Civil War

A series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists.

Bishop Jacques Bossuet

A French bishop and theologian, a strong advocate of the divine right of kings.

divine right

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.

Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin

French chief ministers who strengthened the monarchy during the Thirty Years' War.

the Fronde

A series of civil wars in France during the 1640s, primarily against the royal authority.

Edict of Fontainebleau

A 1685 decree by Louis XIV revoking the Edict of Nantes, leading to persecution of Protestants.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

The finance minister of Louis XIV who promoted mercantilism and state control of the economy.

Louis XIV's wars

A series of conflicts initiated by Louis XIV to expand French territory and influence.