HIST 1400 – Test 2 Chronological Flashcards

Johannes Gutenberg

Invented the movable-type printing press (1450s). Importance: Revolutionized communication, spreading literacy and Reformation ideas.

Martin Luther

German monk who started the Protestant Reformation (1517). Importance: Challenged Church authority; led to new Christian denominations.

John Calvin

Protestant reformer who developed Calvinism. Importance: Spread ideas of predestination and work ethic influencing Western culture.

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire (1521). Importance: Established Spanish dominance in the Americas.

King Afonso I

Ruler of Kongo who opposed Portuguese slave trade. Importance: Early African resistance to European exploitation.

Emperor Yongle

Ming Dynasty emperor who sponsored Zheng He’s voyages. Importance: Expanded Chinese maritime influence before closing trade.

Suleyman the Magnificent

Ottoman sultan during empire’s golden age (1520–1566). Importance: Expanded empire and codified laws.

Sunni vs. Shi’a

Main branches of Islam; split over succession after Muhammad. Importance: Continues to define political and religious divisions in Islam.

Jamestown (1607)

First permanent English colony in America. Importance: Beginning of British colonization in North America.

Claudius Ptolemy

Ancient astronomer who promoted geocentrism. Importance: His model dominated until the Scientific Revolution.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Proposed heliocentric model (1543). Importance: Challenged Church’s Earth-centered universe.

Johannes Kepler

Mathematician who proved planets move in ellipses. Importance: Strengthened heliocentrism with math.

Galileo Galilei

Used telescope to support heliocentrism. Importance: Laid foundation for modern physics; clashed with Church.

Isaac Newton

Formulated laws of motion and gravity (1687). Importance: Unified natural science and rationalism.

Deism

Belief in a Creator who does not interfere. Importance: Reflected Enlightenment rejection of dogma.

John Locke

English philosopher advocating natural rights. Importance: Inspired modern democracy and U.S. founding.

Montesquieu

Wrote The Spirit of the Laws (1748). Importance: Advocated separation of powers; influenced U.S. Constitution.

Voltaire

Critic of tyranny and religious intolerance. Importance: Champion of free speech and civil liberties.

Rousseau

Wrote The Social Contract. Importance: Promoted democracy and collective will; inspired French Revolution.

Adam Smith

Wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776). Importance: Father of modern capitalism.

French and Indian War

Conflict between Britain and France in North America. Importance: Britain gains dominance; colonies taxed → Revolution.

George Washington

Colonial officer in early war. Importance: Gained experience leading to U.S. independence.

Edward Braddock

British general defeated by French and Natives. Importance: Exposed British military weakness in colonies.

William Pitt

British Prime Minister; global war strategist. Importance: Led Britain to worldwide victory.

Marquis de Montcalm & James Wolfe

Commanders at Battle of Quebec; both died in 1759. Importance: British victory secured control of Canada.

Frederick the Great

Prussian king; military genius. Importance: Strengthened Prussia as a major European power.

Battle of Plassey (1757)

British victory in India. Importance: Began British colonial rule in India.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended Seven Years’ War. Importance: Britain became global superpower.

Proclamation Line of 1763

Banned colonial expansion west of Appalachians. Importance: Angered colonists; first major break with Britain.

Stamp, Townsend, and Tea Acts

British taxes on colonies. Importance: Triggered revolutionary protests.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists dumped British tea. Importance: Symbol of defiance; provoked harsh British response.

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts

British punishment for Boston Tea Party. Importance: United colonies against British rule.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

First battles of the American Revolution. Importance: Began war for independence.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

American victory in New York. Importance: Convinced France to ally with U.S.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Final battle; British surrender. Importance: Secured American independence.

French War Debts & King Louis XVI

Debt crisis from wars; Louis called Estates General. Importance: Sparked French Revolution.

Estates General / National Assembly

Representative body; Third Estate formed own assembly. Importance: Beginning of democratic reform.

Storming of the Bastille (1789)

Parisian mob attacked royal fortress. Importance: Symbolic start of the revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Proclaimed liberty and equality for citizens. Importance: Foundation of human rights principles.

Reign of Terror / Robespierre / Guillotine / Jacobins

Radical phase executing “enemies of the revolution.” Importance: Showed extremes of revolutionary ideology.

The Directory (1795–1799)

Moderate post-Terror government. Importance: Weak; paved way for Napoleon.

Napoleon Bonaparte

General turned emperor (1804–1815). Importance: Spread reforms and nationalism across Europe.

Battle of Trafalgar / Russia / Leipzig / Waterloo / St. Helena

Series of Napoleonic defeats. Importance: Ended his rule; reshaped Europe.

Saint-Domingue / Toussaint L’Ouverture

Slave revolt in French Haiti. Importance: First successful slave-led revolution; independence in 1804.

Simón Bolívar / Gran Colombia

South American independence leader. Importance: Freed much of Latin America from Spain.

Coal and Cotton / James Watt

Steam power and textile innovations. Importance: Drove industrialization and urbanization.

Flying Shuttle / Spinning Mule / Bessemer Process

Key inventions improving production speed. Importance: Increased output; revolutionized industries.

Factory Work / Luddite Revolts

Harsh labor conditions and worker uprisings. Importance: Highlighted social impacts of mechanization.

Henry Ford / Interchangeable Parts / Assembly Line

Standardized production system. Importance: Made mass production and consumer culture possible.

Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, Gould

U.S. industrial tycoons. Importance: Built corporate empires and influenced policy.

Karl Marx / Socialism / Communism / False Consciousness

Theories opposing capitalism and inequality. Importance: Shaped modern social and political thought.

Muhammad Ali (Egypt)

Modernized Egypt under Ottoman rule. Importance: Early non-European industrialization effort.

Tanzimat Reforms / Abd al-Hamid II / Young Turks

Ottoman modernization and political movements. Importance: Tried to save empire; mixed success.

Armenian Genocide (1915)

Mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule. Importance: One of first modern genocides.

Crimean War (1853–56)

Russia vs. Ottoman/Britain/France. Importance: Showed European rivalries and modern warfare.

Alexander II / Abolition of Serfdom (1861)

Freed Russian peasants. Importance: Step toward modernization; limited success.

Russo-Japanese War (1904–05)

Japan defeated Russia. Importance: Proved Asian power could beat European empire.

Opium War / Treaty of Nanjing (1842)

Britain forced opium trade on China. Importance: Opened Chinese ports; started “Century of Humiliation.”

Taiping Rebellion / Hong Xiuquan

Massive Chinese civil war. Importance: Weakened Qing dynasty and killed millions.

Boxer Rebellion / Empress Dowager Cixi

Anti-foreign uprising in China. Importance: Crushed by Western powers; deepened dependency.

“White Man’s Burden” / Reasons for Imperialism

Ideology claiming moral duty to “civilize” others. Importance: Justified European colonial expansion.

Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

Indian rebellion against British rule. Importance: Ended rule of East India Company → British Raj.

British Raj / Founding of Australia

British imperial governance in Asia-Pacific. Importance: Cemented global empire.

Franco-Prussian War / Unification of Germany & Italy

Wars of nationalism (1870–71). Importance: Created new industrial European powers.

Berlin Conference (1884–85)

European meeting dividing Africa. Importance: Formalized “Scramble for Africa.”

Zulu War / Isandlwana / Boer War

Conflicts in South Africa. Importance: Showed African resistance and imperial brutality.

Niall Ferguson’s Argument

Historian claiming British Empire spread progress and stability. Importance: Modern debate on empire’s legacy.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

U.S. bought French territory doubling size. Importance: Expanded U.S. westward power.

Mexican-American War (1846–48)

U.S. defeated Mexico; gained Southwest. Importance: Fueled expansion and slavery tensions.

U.S. Civil War (1861–65)

North vs. South over slavery and union. Importance: Ended slavery; preserved U.S. unity.

Spanish-American War (1898)

U.S. defeated Spain. Importance: Marked U.S. rise as global power.

“Remember the Maine” / Yellow Journalism / Weyler

U.S. propaganda justifying war in Cuba. Importance: Showed role of media in shaping imperialism.

Philippines War (1899–1902)

U.S. fought Filipino independence. Importance: Demonstrated U.S. colonial ambitions.

Platt Amendment (1901)

Allowed U.S. control of Cuban affairs. Importance: Symbol of American imperialism.

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Japanese modernization under Emperor Meiji. Importance: Transformed Japan into industrial empire.

Japanese Industrialization / Imperialism

Japan adopted Western tech and expansion. Importance: Became major Asian power by early 1900s.

John Maynard Keynes

Advocated government spending to stabilize economy. Importance: Influenced global policy after Great Depression.

Milton Friedman

Supported free markets and limited government. Importance: Shaped modern conservative economics.