Unit 4 Review Guide: Absolutism, The Scientific Revolution, and The Enlightenment

Unit 4 Review Guide: Absolutism, The Scientific Revolution, and The Enlightenment

Overview of Concepts

  • Absolutism: Single ruler with absolute power, often by Divine Right.

  • Divine Right of Kings: Monarchs' authority directly from God.

  • Rule of Law: All individuals, including government, accountable under law.

  • Natural Rights: Inherent rights like life, liberty, property.

  • Geocentric Theory: Earth at the center of the universe.

  • Heliocentric Theory: Sun at the center of the universe (Copernicus).

  • Universal Law of Gravitation: Newton's law explaining attraction between objects with mass.

  • Scientific Method: Systematic learning via observation, experimentation, analysis.

  • Philosophe: Enlightenment thinker applying reason to social issues.

  • Laissez-Faire: Economic philosophy; minimal government intervention in commerce.

  • Social Contract: Individuals consent to government for rights protection.

  • Enlightened Absolutist: Monarch embracing Enlightenment principles while retaining absolute power.

Key Questions

  1. Absolute monarch & countries? Rulers with total control, no constitutional limits. France (Louis XIV), Russia (Peter the Great), Spain (Philip II).

  2. Divine Right of Kings? Kings chosen by God, accountable only to Him; legitimizes authority.

  3. English Bill of Rights? (1689) Limited monarchy, increased parliamentary power, guaranteed citizen rights (e.g., petition, fair trial).

  4. Constitutional vs. Republican government?

  • Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch head of state within constitutional framework (e.g., UK).

  • Republican Government: Officials elected by populace, accountable to them (e.g., France).

  1. Geocentric to Heliocentric? Geocentric (Earth-centered) replaced by Heliocentric (Sun-centered, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo).

  2. Key Figures:

  • Copernicus: Heliocentric Theory.

  • Kepler: Laws of planetary motion.

  • Galileo: Telescope use, supported Heliocentric Model, opposed by Church.

  • Isaac Newton: Universal Law of Gravitation, physics, math.

  • Montesquieu: Separation of powers.

  • Voltaire: Civil liberties, criticized religious intolerance.

  • Diderot: Edited Encyclopédie.

  • John Locke: Natural Rights (life, liberty, property), government by consent.

  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Social Contract, popular sovereignty.

  1. Catholic Church opposition to science? Contradicted theological teachings, feared loss of authority.

  2. Enlightenment ideas spread? Books, pamphlets, Encyclopédie, salons, discussion groups.

  3. “Philosophe”? French Enlightenment intellectuals applying reason for social reform.

  4. Natural Rights? Fundamental, inherent rights: life, liberty, property (Locke).

  5. Social Contract? Individuals surrender some freedoms to government for protection of rights/order.

  6. “Enlightened Absolutists”? Rulers like Frederick II (Prussia), Catherine the Great (Russia) implementing Enlightenment reforms while holding absolute power.

  7. Enlightened Absolutist view on religion? Religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence.

  8. Adam Smith's economic policies? Laissez-faire; minimal government intervention for free markets, competition, growth.

Big Questions

  1. 17th-century monarch ruling styles?

  • Absolute Monarchy: Total power (e.g., Louis XIV, France).

  • Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch's power limited by law/parliament (e.g., England post-Glorious Revolution).

  1. Scientific Revolution & key developments? (16th-18th centuries) Shift in scientific thought. Heliocentric Theory, scientific method.

  2. Enlightenment concepts & spread? Reason, liberty, progress. Spread via publications (pamphlets, books), salons.

  3. Enlightened Absolutist vs. 17th-century monarchs? Enlightened Absolutists (rational governance, reforms like education, legal) balanced tradition and ideals, unlike often rigid 17th-century autocrats.

Stimulus

"Take a view of the Royal Exchange (trading center) in London…. Where the representatives of all nations meet for the benefit of mankind. There the Jew, the [Muslim], and the Christian transact together as tho’ they all professed the same religion… There the Presbyterian confides in the Anabaptist (Baptist), and the Churchman (Anglican) depends on the Quaker’s word… If one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become arbitrary (random); if there were but two, the people would cut one another’s throats; but as there are such a multitude, they all live happy and in peace."

- Voltaire, Letters Concerning the English Nation, 1726

(Note: Voltaire was from France)