Unit 10: The Enlightenment and Revolutions, 1550-1800

Ptolemy

Alexandrian astronomer who proposed a geocentric system of astronomy that was undisputed until Copernicus (2nd century AD).

Nicolaus Copernicus

A Polish astronomer who proved that the Ptolemaic system was inaccurate, he proposed the theory that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system (Heliocentric).

Johannes Kepler

German astronomer proved that the earth moved in an elliptical, not circular, orbit.

Galileo Galilei

Italian astronomer and mathematician who used a telescope to observe four moons of Jupiter, sunspots, and mountains on the Earth's moon. He proved Copernicus' theory that the sun was the center of the solar system.

Isaac Newton

English mathematician and scientist formulated the theory of universal gravitation, and three laws of motion.

Galen

Greek physician whose theories formed the basis of European medicine until the Renaissance, through dissection of animals.

Andreas Vesalius

Flemish scientist who pioneered the study of anatomy and provided detailed overviews of the human body and its systems.

William Harvey

English physician and scientist who described the circulation of blood to and from the heart.

Maria Winkelmann

The most famous of the female astronomers in Germany. Discovered a comet.

Antoine Lavoisier

Father of modern chemistry.

Montesquieu

French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755); and checks and balances.

Voltaire

French philosopher. He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church; advocating for religious tolerance.

Deism

God is a watchmaker; The religion of the Enlightenment Followers believed that God existed and had created the world, but that afterwards He left it to run by its own natural laws.

Denis Diderot

Philosopher who edited a book called the Encyclopedia.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A French man who believed government should exist to protect common good, and be a democracy ("Social Contract").

Adam Smith

Scottish economist who wrote the Wealth of Nations a precursor to modern Capitalism.

Mary Wollstonecraft

English writer who denied male supremacy and advocated equal education for women; wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women."

John Wesley

English clergyman and founder of Methodism.

Balthasar Neumann

Architect of the Church of the Fourteen Saints.

Franz Joseph Haydn

Classical composer who wrote The Creation and The Seasons.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

An Austrian composer, his works include operas such as The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), and The Magic Flute (1791).

John Locke

17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

Maria Theresa

Austrian empress who unified her nation after her father's death; main enemy was Prussia.

Joseph II

The son of Maria Teresa and a enlightened despot who ruled over the Austrian Empire.

Catherine II

German wife of Peter III of Russia and came to power after his murder; ruled Russia 1762-1796; interested in enlightend reforms but didnt do any; had policy favoring landed nobility but this led to worse conditions for Russian peasents and led to rebellion; the rebellion spread across spouthern Russia but she halted all reform and serfdom expanded into newer parts of the empire; expanded Russian Empire

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence.

General Charles Cornwallis

British general who fought the Patriots in the south; surrounded at Yorktown and surrendered to George Washington.

Geocentric

A model of the universe in which Earth is at the center of the Solar System.

Heliocentric

Based on the belief that the sun is the center of the Solar System.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Laissez-faire

Idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs.

Salon

Informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophes, and others exchanged ideas.

Roccoco

An artistic style that replaced baroque in the 1730s; it was highly secular, emphasizing grace, charm, and gentle action.

Enlightened Absolutism

A system in which rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaining their full royal powers.

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Articles of Confederation

1st written plan of government for the United States (1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade).

Federal System

A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Baroque

An artistic style of the seventeenth century characterized by complex forms, bold ornamentation, and contrasting elements.

Stamp Act

An act passed by the British parliment in 1756 that raised revenue from the American colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents.

Seven Years War

Worldwide struggle between France and Great Britain for power and control of land; fought in North America, Europe, and India.

Peter III

Husband of Catherine the Great, was mentally unstable, and was murdered by a group of Russian army officers. Whether or not Catherine was involved in the murder is unknown, but she did benefit by it as she then had the throne to herself., Withdrew from the Seven Year's War because he liked Frederick II of Prussia. This essentially stopped the war.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.

Treaty of Paris

Agreement signed by British and American leaders that stated the United States of America was a free and independent country.

James Hargreaves

Invented the spinning jenny.

Edmund Cartwright

Invented the power loom.

James Watt

Scottish engineer and inventor whose improvements in the steam engine led to its wide use in industry (1736-1819).

Richard Trevithick

English engineer who built the first steam locomotive.

Robert Fulton

American inventor who designed the first commercially successful steamboat and the first steam warship.

Factors that led Britain in the Industrial Revolution

1) The Agricultural Revolution

2) Parliament passed laws to promote industrialization.

3) Great Britain had a large supply of capital.

4) Great Britain had plenty of resources (rivers, coal, iron ore)

5) Great Britain had a colonial empire, which provided markets to sell products.