AP European History; Absoluitism

Absolute Monarchy

A political system where a single ruler holds supreme authority, often justified by divine right.

Key Characteristics of Absolute Monarchy

Centralization of power, lack of political pluralism, and the monarch's ability to make laws without consent.

Louis XIV

Notable example of an absolute monarch from France, known for his reign and building of Versailles.

Divine Right of Kings

The doctrine that monarchs derive their authority from God, not from the consent of the people.

Edict of Nantes

A law that granted religious freedom to Huguenots in France, revoked by Louis XIV.

Intendant System

A system in France where appointed officials managed provinces on behalf of the king.

War of the Spanish Succession

A major European conflict from 1701 to 1714, involving several European powers over the Spanish throne.

Constitutionalism

A political system in which the powers of government are limited by law.

Magna Carta

A charter agreed to in 1215 that limited the powers of the English king and laid the foundation for constitutional law.

Glorious Revolution

The 1688 overthrow of King James II of England that led to William and Mary ruling and the establishment of constitutional monarchy.

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia known for his extensive reforms aimed at modernization and westernization.

St. Petersburg

The city founded by Peter the Great as a 'window to the west' in Russia.

Table of Ranks

A formal list used in Russia that classified different levels of nobility and civil service under Peter the Great.

Frederick the Great

King of Prussia known for military victories and the expansion of the Prussian state.

Peace of Utrecht

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

Seven Years War

A global conflict from 1756 to 1763 that involved most of the great powers of the time.

Military Expansion and Bureaucratic State

Policies often implemented by absolute monarchs to strengthen their control over their nations.

Louis XIII

King of France who ruled before Louis XIV and relied on Cardinal Richelieu to strengthen the monarchy.

Cardinal Richelieu

Chief minister to Louis XIII who played a key role in consolidating royal power in France.

Duke of Sully

Finance minister to Henry IV of France known for his financial reforms.

James I of England

The monarch who succeeded Elizabeth I and was the first to rule both England and Scotland.

English Civil War

A series of conflicts between Parliamentarians and Royalists in England during the mid-17th century.

Restoration of Monarchy

The period following the English Civil War when Charles II was restored to the throne.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War and later Lord Protector of England.

Test Act

An act passed by the English Parliament that required all officeholders to be Anglican.

Charles II

King of England who was restored to the throne after the English Civil War.

James II

King of England whose reign ended with the Glorious Revolution due to his pro-Catholic policies.

Boyars

The noble class in Russia that Peter the Great aimed to reform and weaken their power.

Bourbon Dynasty

A royal dynasty in France that ruled during the absolute monarchy period, including Louis XIV.

Versailles

A grand palace built by Louis XIV, symbolizing absolute monarchy and the centralization of power in France.

Social Contract

The theory that individuals consent to form a government that will protect their rights in exchange for some personal freedoms.

Huguenots

French Protestants who faced persecution, particularly under Louis XIV, leading to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that advocates for a strong role of the state in the economy, common in the policies of absolute monarchs.

Nationalism

The political ideology that emphasizes the interests of a particular nation, often leading to the consolidation of state power.

Despotism

A form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power, often synonymous with absolute monarchy.

Cabinet System

A system of government where the executive is supported by a cabinet of ministers, which developed in England.

Balance of Power

A political theory that suggests that national security is enhanced when military capabilities are distributed so that no one nation is strong enough to dominate all others.

Enlightenment Ideas

Intellectual movements that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of authority, challenging absolute monarchy.

Jean Baptist Colbert

The finance minister under Louis XIV known for implementing mercantilist policies to strengthen France's economy.

Henry IV of France

The first king of the Bourbon dynasty, known for issuing the Edict of Nantes to promote religious tolerance.

Northern War

The war fought between Sweden and a coalition that included Russia, Denmark, and Poland, leading to Russian expansion under Peter the Great.

Westernization under Peter the Great

The process of adopting Western European technology and culture to modernize Russia.

Hohenzollern Dynasty

The royal dynasty that ruled Prussia and later the German Empire, known for its military and administrative reforms.

Frederick the Elector

The ruler of Brandenburg who played a key role in the rise of the Hohenzollern dynasty and laid the groundwork for the future state of Prussia.

Religious Toleration in the Dutch Republic

The policy adopted by the Dutch to allow various religious groups to practice their faith freely, contributing to its prosperity.

Charles II of Spain

The last Habsburg king of Spain whose death led to the War of the Spanish Succession due to the absence of a clear heir.

Pragmatic Sanction

An edict issued to allow Maria Theresa to inherit the Habsburg lands, ensuring dynastic unity.

War of the Austrian Succession

A war arising from the challenge to Maria Theresa's succession and the Habsburg claim to territories.

Peace of Utrecht (1713)

The treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession, redistributing territories in Europe.

War of the League of Augsburg

A conflict involving France and a coalition of European powers, resulting from Louis XIV's expansionist policies.

Seven Years War

A global conflict from 1756 to 1763 that affected Europe, North America, and Asia, reshaping colonial empires.