1600-1700 Notes

Historical Figures of the 1600-1700 Era

• Louis XIV

  • Known as the "Sun King"
  • Centralized power in France
  • Established absolute monarchy
  • Built the Palace of Versailles to demonstrate power

• Peter the Great

  • Tsar of Russia from 1682-1725
  • Modernized and westernized Russia
  • Established St. Petersburg as the new capital
  • Reformed the military and government administration

• Frederick William, the Great Elector

  • Ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia
  • Focused on building a strong military
  • Centralized power and laid groundwork for the future kingdom of Prussia

• Frederick William

  • Successor to Frederick William, the Great Elector
  • Continued his policies, strengthening Prussia

• Charles I

  • King of England, Scotland, and Ireland
  • His reign led to the English Civil War
  • Advocated for the divine right of kings
  • Executed in 1649

• Gustavus Adolphus

  • King of Sweden
  • Major role in the Thirty Years' War
  • Known for innovative military tactics and reforms

• Oliver Cromwell

  • Leader of the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War
  • Became Lord Protector of England
  • His rule was marked by strict Puritan morals

• William and Mary

  • Ruled England after the Glorious Revolution
  • Established constitutional monarchy
  • Passed the English Bill of Rights

• Ivan the Terrible

  • First Tsar of Russia
  • Known for his ruthless and tyrannical rule

• Galileo Galilei

  • Italian astronomer and physicist
  • Key figure in the Scientific Revolution
  • Developed the telescope, supported heliocentrism

• Isaac Newton

  • English mathematician and physicist
  • Formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation
  • Author of "Principia Mathematica"

• John Locke

  • English philosopher
  • Advocated for natural rights: life, liberty, and property
  • His ideas influenced democratic thought

• Francis Bacon

  • Philosopher and statesman
  • Developed the scientific method

• René Descartes

  • French philosopher and mathematician
  • Known for "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am)

Key Events and Conflicts

• Growth of the State of Prussia

  • Marked by strong military focus and centralized governance

• Austrian Hapsburgs

  • Prominent ruling family in Central Europe
  • Key player in the politics of the era

• The Age of Louis XIV

  • Cultural and political dominance of France under Louis XIV
  • Characterized by absolute monarchical rule

• Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)

  • A religious conflict in Europe, mainly between Protestants and Catholics
  • Resulted in significant territorial and political changes in Europe
  • Ended with the Peace of Westphalia (1648)

• English Civil War (1642-1651)

  • Armed conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists
  • Resulted in the temporary overthrow of the monarchy
  • Led to the rise of Oliver Cromwell

• Stuart Dynasty

  • Ruled England after the Tudor dynasty
  • Significant events include the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution

• Siege of Vienna (1683)

  • Major conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League
  • Marked the halt of Ottoman expansion into Europe

• Wars of Louis XIV

  • Series of conflicts in which Louis XIV sought to expand French territory
  • Resulted in considerable destruction and loss across Europe

• Treaty of Pyrenees (1659)

  • Ended the Franco-Spanish War
  • Redistributed territories between France and Spain

Cultural and Intellectual Movements

• Baroque Art

  • Characterized by exuberance, dramatic expressions, and grandeur
  • Examples include Vermeer’s "Girl with a Pearl Earring"
  • Features aspects like color, emotion, busyness, light, and movement

• French Classicism

  • Focused on clarity, harmony, and order in art and culture

• Economic Developments

  • Capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership and market competition
  • Commercial Revolution: Expansion of trade and commerce in Europe
  • Mercantilism: Economic policy aimed at building a wealthy state through trade and resources
  • Golden Age of the Netherlands: A period of great prosperity and cultural achievement in the Dutch Republic
  • The Dutch East India Company played a significant role in global trade and economics

• Political Ideas

  • Absolutism: A political doctrine where a single ruler holds absolute power
  • Constitutionalism: Advocacy for a government limited by laws or a constitution
  • Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference

Shifts in Religion and Philosophy

• Decline of Church Authority

  • With the rise of secularism, traditional church authority diminished in political matters

• Growth of Secularism

  • Focus on non-religious matters and rational thought