Absolutism and the Scientific Revolution

absolutism

A system where a ruler holds total power over government and the people.

Absolute Monarch

A ruler with complete authority, not limited by laws or a constitution.

limited monarch

a monarch whose power is restricted by laws or a constitution.

constitutional monarch

A ruler who shares power with a representative body; their power is defined by a constitution.

Divine right

The belief that a monarch’s power comes directly from God.

scientific revolution

A period of major scientific change based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.

heliocentric

sun centered universe

geocentric

earth centered universe

who was the first monarch to be publicly executed

charles I of england

Which monarch traveled to Europe for the first time in their country’s history?

peter the great of russia

Which monarch built up the Palace of Versailles

louis XIV of france

Which monarch fought many wars over religion

philip II of spain

Which monarchs were seen as more enlightened/less absolute

Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and sometimes Frederick the Great.

What are common traits of absolute monarchs?

• Centralized power

• Belief in divine right

• Large standing armies

• High taxes

• Controlled nobles

• Patronage of the arts

What happened between Galileo and the Church?

Galileo supported heliocentrism, was tried by the Church, forced to recant, and put under house arrest.

What did Copernicus discover?

Proposed the heliocentric model.

What did Kepler discover?

Planets move in elliptical orbits; laws of planetary motion.

What did Newton discover?

Laws of motion, universal gravitation, and helped develop calculus.

What did Boyle discover

Boyle’s Law; helped found modern chemistry.

What did Vesalius discover

Accurate human anatomy through dissection; wrote On the Fabric of the Human Body.

What did Paré discover or improve?

Surgical techniques, wound treatment, ointments, and better tools.