Chapter 3 - Europe to 1763

Absolutism

The acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical, or theological matters.

Louis XIV

The epitome of the absolute monarch who ruled France from 1643 to 1715, known for seeing himself as 'divinely appointed'.

Jean Baptiste Colbert

Appointed by Louis XIV as Comptroller General of Finance, he improved France's wealth and eliminated corruption in taxation.

Edict of Nantes

Legal protections granted to French protestants (Huguenots) by King Henry IV, later revoked by Louis XIV in 1685.

Friedrich Wilhelm the Great Elector

Inherited an impoverished Prussia at age 20 and is known for building a strong standing army.

King Friedrich I

Transformed Prussia from a second-rate power to an efficient and prosperous state.

Charles I

Son of King James, he quarreled with Parliament and was executed after a civil war.

Long Parliament

First convened in 1640, it led to the arrest and execution of several individuals and was summoned for war funding.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the New Model Army who dismissed Parliament and formed the 'Assembly of the Saints'.

The Restoration

Refers to the reign of King Charles II marked by prosperity and the definition of rights between the King and Parliament.

James II

Became ruling monarch of England during a prosperous period, but attempted to create a Catholic triumph.

Glorious Revolution

Events that led to James II's overthrow and the ascension of William of Orange and Mary to the throne.

Geocentric Universe Theory

Ptolemy's theory stating that the Earth is the center of the universe, with celestial bodies orbiting around it.

Heliocentric Universe Theory

The theory suggesting that the Sun is at the center of the universe, supported by the works of Kepler, Copernicus, and Galileo.

Copernicus

A Polish astronomer known for formulating the heliocentric theory.

Tycho Brahe

A law student who became an astronomer known for accurately predicting a solar eclipse.

Kepler

Mathematician who formulated the Three Laws of Planetary Motion and published his findings in 'The New Astronomy'.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian polymath, the first to use a telescope for celestial observations, published in 'The Starry Messenger'.

Isaac Newton

Famous philosopher and mathematician known for formulating the concept of gravity.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher known for his work 'Leviathan' and the belief in a social contract without democracy.

John Locke

Philosopher who advanced the notion of social contract to protect individual natural rights.

Montesquieu

Proposed the separation of government powers in 'Spirit of the Laws', influencing modern check-and-balance systems.

Voltaire

Philosopher advocating for religious freedom and the separation of church and state in 'Treatise on Tolerance'.

Adam Smith

Economist who articulated that national wealth is determined by productivity in 'Wealth of Nations'.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher who discussed the social contract in which individuals exchange liberty for civil rights protection.