Untitled Flashcards Set

1. Scientific Revolution: A period of significant advances in scientific thought and experimentation during

the 16th and 17th centuries that challenged traditional views of the universe.

2. Enlightenment: An intellectual movement in the 18th century emphasizing reason, individualism, and

skepticism of authority, which influenced political and social reform.

3. Heliocentrism: The astronomical model proposed by Copernicus that places the sun at the center of

the solar system, contrary to the geocentric view.

4. Empiricism: The philosophical belief that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, as

promoted by thinkers like Bacon.

5. Natural Rights: The idea that all individuals possess inherent rights, such as life, liberty, and property,

central to Enlightenment philosophy and influential in the development of modern democracy.

6. Social Contract: A theory developed by Hobbes and Rousseau suggesting that individuals consent to

form a government to protect their rights, often involving a trade-off of certain freedoms for security.

7. Bourgeoisie: The social class of the middle and upper-middle classes who owned the means of

production and were influential in the French Revolution.

8. Radicals: Individuals who advocate for fundamental changes in political, social, or economic

structures, particularly during the French Revolution.

9. Reign of Terror: A period during the French Revolution characterized by extreme political repression

and mass executions, led by Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety.

10. Napoleonic Code: A comprehensive set of laws established by Napoleon that aimed to reform the

legal system in France, emphasizing equality and secularism.

11. Continental System: Napoleon's economic strategy aimed at weakening Britain by prohibiting trade

between Britain and other European countries.

12. Congress of Vienna: A conference held after Napoleon's defeat to establish a balance of power in

Europe and prevent future conflicts, emphasizing diplomacy and stability.

13. Industrial Revolution: A period of rapid industrial growth and change in the late 18th and early 19th

centuries characterized by the shift from agrarian economies to industrialized ones.

14. Urbanization: The process of population movement from rural areas to cities, often a result of

industrialization, leading to significant social changes.

15. Laissez-faire: An economic policy of minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing

businesses to operate freely.

16. Socialism: An economic and political system advocating for collective or governmental ownership of

the means of production, aimed at reducing inequality.

17. Imperialism: The policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonization, military

force, or other means, particularly during the 19th century.

18. Paternalism: A governance style in which authorities provide for the needs of the population while

limiting their rights and freedoms, often used in colonial contexts.

19. Sphere of Influence: A region where a foreign power exerts significant control or influence over the

local government and economy, often without direct political control.

20. Extraterritorial Rights: Legal agreements that grant foreign nationals the ability to live under their own

laws rather than the laws of