AP European History Cram Finale Notes
Key events include the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia, the French Revolution, and the rise of nationalism in the 19th century.
Important figures to remember: Napoleon Bonaparte, Otto von Bismarck, and Queen Victoria. Additionally, the impact of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles on the geopolitical landscape is crucial for understanding the subsequent rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe.
Session Overview
How to communicate with the presenter.
Units 1-9 review.
Trivia after each unit.
Multiple-choice practice.
SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ guidance.
Q&A session in the last hour.
Unit 1: Renaissance and Age of Exploration
Unit 1 in a Nutshell
Pre-Renaissance Europe: Feudalism, Hundred Years' War, Crisis of the Late Middle Ages.
The Renaissance: Foundations of Renaissance ideas, Italian Renaissance and humanism, Northern Renaissance and Christian humanism.
The Age of Exploration: Foundations of European exploration, motives for exploration, the African slave trade, impacts of exploration.
Crisis of the Late Middle Ages
Several events prompted Europe's exit from the Middle Ages, although it was a gradual transition.
Black Death (1347): Killed a third of Europe's population, causing massive social, economic, and political impacts and effectively ending feudalism in some areas.
Hundred Years' War: Contributed to the end of feudalism.
Peasant Revolts: Further pushed Europe out of the feudal era.
Avignon Papacy: The Catholic Church moved from the Vatican to Avignon, leading to a decline in its authority as people saw it as a power and money grab.
The Renaissance
Definition: "Rebirth".
Characteristics:
Return to Greek and Roman thinking.
Renewed interest in secular matters.
Greater appreciation of self and worth of the individual.
Impacts: Primarily affected the learned, wealthy, and noble classes and wasn't universally felt across Europe.
Why Italy?
Economic superiority and proximity to ancient Greece and Rome facilitated the Renaissance's start in Italy.
The fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 led ancient Greek scholars to flee to Italy.
The Printing Press
Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440.
Enabled rapid spread of printed works and the development of print culture.
Had massive educational, social, political, and religious impacts, including increased literacy rates and easier spread of ideas.
Intellectual and Social Changes
Individualism: Focus on the individual and their self-worth. Example: artists signing their name to art.
Secularism: Shift towards appreciating non-religious aspects of life. People began to appreciate their earthly lives, not just focusing on getting to heaven.
The focus on secular themes, even if nominally religious, is a major departure from the Middle Ages.
Humanism
Definition: Philosophy focused on man and his world, aiming to better understand human nature.
Petrarch is considered the father of humanism and the first modern writer. He wrote secular works.
Machiavelli
Wrote "The Prince".
Created a handbook for rulers and promoted power politics.
The ends justify the means; better to be feared than loved.
Renaissance Man
Embraces humanism, individualism, and secularism.
Explores various artistic styles and trades.
Leonardo da Vinci is a prime example.
Christine de Pizan
One of the earliest feminists.
Argued that women were a viable part of family life and not inherently evil.
She said that women should play a supportive role to their husbands.
The college-board likes to ask questions about women's rights.
Renaissance Art
Middle Ages art was bland with no perspective and incorrect proportions.
Renaissance art focused on:
Perspective.
Vibrant colors.
Proper proportions.
Moved away from exclusively nonsecular themes.
Renaissance Artists
Titian: Use of perspective, proper proportion, and vibrant colors
Botticelli: Secular themes by portraying the birth of Venus (Roman goddess).
Donatello's David: First freestanding nude sculpture since ancient Rome.
Raphael: School of Athens shows a crash course and is a perfect example of the depth of field that Rafael depicts, absolutely gorgeous.
Michelangelo: Michelangelo did the Pieta and the Sistine Chapel. The Sixtine Chapel has the old and new testaments. The Pieta, his sculpting work, is next-level.
Renaissance served as the base for modern art and the later artistic styles.
Northern Renaissance
Similar to the Italian Renaissance but with differences.
Focus on Northern Christian humanists, who aimed to change and modernize the Catholic Church.
Northern Christian Humanists
Erasmus and Thomas More: Important Christian humanists.
Northern Renaissance Art
More realistic, subdued, with darker colors.
Focused on capturing the world as it was.
Jean Van Eyck and Albrecht Dürer were famous Northern Renaissance artists.
Peter Brugel depicted scenes of city folk.
New Monarchies
Changing attitudes of monarchs in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Resulted in growing power of the monarch, centralization of government, establishment of domestic order, and building of standing militaries.
Examples: France (Francis I), England (Henry VII of the Tudor dynasty), and Spain (Ferdinand and Isabella).
Charles the Fifth is the Archetype New Monarch
Age of Exploration: Motivations
To get on the map by discovering new lands and making money.
Religious zeal (God, glory, and gold).
Economic motivations were the most important.
Age of Exploration: Technological Advancements
New technologies made travel navigation easier.
The Latine rig, the compass, the astrolabe, and gunpowder
The astrolabe is effectively a manual computer that helps tell you your location
Age of Exploration: Leaders
Portugal: First to explore.
Spain: Sailed across the New World and conquered the Aztec and Incan empires, establishing the Encomienda system.
France and England: Explored North America.
The Encomienda system
System of forced labor that the Spanish used in Central and South America.
The Commercial Revolution
In response to the exploration
There was a massive population increase
The development of capitalist ideas became prevalent.
The desire for consumer goods.
The precursor to the agriculture revolution.
Mercantilism
A countries' power is measured in gold and silver.
Became the dominate basic economic system.
The African Slave Trade
Massively disrupted an entire group/race of people as whole disrupted an entire continent.
Was a response to the Encomienda system failing.
Most African slaves went to South America, Brazil
The Columbian Exchange and Triangle Trade
Where we see the movements of goods, people, and ideas across the Atlantic ocean.
Effects of Exploration
Increased power and wealth of nations.
War between European nations and native peoples.
The spread of Christianity in European culture.
Mistreatment of native peoples (ethnocentrism).
Transatlantic slave trade.
Unit 2: Reformation and Wars of Religion
Unit 2 in a Nutshell
The Reformation: Luther's Reformation, Calvin's Reformation, Anglican Reformation, and the reforms of Elizabeth I.
Counter and Catholic Reformation.
Wars of Religion: French Wars of Religion, Dutch Independence Movement, Thirty Years' War, and the Peace of Westphalia.
Martin Luther
Credited with starting the Protestant Reformation.
Trained professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg.
Believed in salvation by faith alone, and saw salvation as a gift from god.
Selling indulgences prompted Luther to write his 95 Theses.
Eventually broke from the church after realizing reform was not possible.
John Calvin
French Protestant who escaped to Geneva.
Developed new ideas about Protestantism, most notably predestination, the idea that God has already decided who will be saved and who will not be saved.
His Protestantism is called the Reformed Church, focused on moral living and obedience.
Luther v. Calvin
Both agreed on the Church body being made up of the believers to support each other.
Disagree on predestination.
Appeal of Protestantism
Appealed to wealthy educated scholars for Bible interpretation.
Appealed to city folk and local priests for freedom.
Appealed to nationalists for control of their church.
Appealed to the nobility for power over the clergy.
Anglican Reformation
Motivated by increasing the power & prestige of the English monarchy.
Henry VIII broke with the church to divorce his wife and gain a male heir.
Act of Supremacy declared the king head of the Church, establishing the Anglican Church.
English Reformation was all about Tudor increasing power.
Took the Catholic church and inserted the Pope.
The Elizabethan Compromise
Under Elizabeth I solidifies the Anglican Church by focusing on religious stability.
Kept traditional Catholic practices but required everyone to attend an Anglican church on Sundays or pay a fine.
Compromise unified most English people around the Anglican Church.
Philip II
King of Spain who sought to save Catholicism in Europe.
Funded a plot to overthrow Elizabeth I, but it failed.
Launched the Spanish Armada to invade England, which also failed, leading to Spain's economic devastation.
The Counter Reformation and the Catholic Reformation
Series of tactics and changes that they used after the reformation happened
The Catholic Church and the Catholic monarchies formulated a plan to decide where the Catholic church should go after this has happened
The Council of Trent reaffirmed Catholic doctrine and reformed corrupt church practices.
Stopped selling indulgences: said that clergy can't hold more than one job; said that clergy must be educated.
Ignatius of Loyola
Religious order focuses on education spreading Christianity.
The Jesuits establishes schools all over the place.
The Wars of Religion
Series of religiously motivate wars that had helped shape and define modern Europe
The French Wars of Religion
Focused on the conflicts between the Huguenots and Catholicism
It was between noble families
Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre: Charles IX orders Huguenots to be killed
30,000 men are killed in five days within France
Results: Henry IV, converts from Protestantism to Catholicism.
He publishes the Edict of Nuns in 1598, which ends the war as the religion.
Dutch Independence Movement
Large religious wars
Dutch independence movement was this political movement but largely religious (Spanish revolt).
Thirty Year's War
Started the religious conflict in Bohemia and eventually spread across the Romanian empire.
The thirty year's war was brutal and bloody. Killed thousands upon thousands of people
Peace of Westphalia
Officially reestablished the Peace of Augsburg with Calvinism. Almost total religious freedom is granted in the Holy Roman Empire to Christians but not the non Christians.
It gave more control to German princes and it established the idea of balance of power.
The Netherlands and Switzerland officially gained their independence, Brandenburg-Prussia gained a lot of territory.
Unit 3: Absolutism and Constitutionalism
Unit 3 in a Nutshell
Absolutism
France: Louis XIV
Russia: Peter the Great
Constitutionalism
Magna Carta & foundations
James I and the Stuarts
Charles I and the English Civil War
The Glorious Revolution
Life in the Seventeenth Century
Generally, was pretty brutal.
Most people's lives were very similar to their great, great, great, great grandparents - farmers and poor.
The first half of the 17th century we see the little ice age
The Thirty Years' War kills a third the holy Roman empire.
But, the second half of the century bounced back a little bit.
Absolutism
Absolute rule by a single ruler, differing from medieval monarchs.
Reasons for rise: Black Death, American colonies, Reformation, nationalism, religious wars ended.
Justified by divine right, the idea that God put the monarchy on the throne and owes nobody from there.
Absolutism in France
Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIII: Richelieu ruled behind the scenes, centralizing government and curbing power of political groups.
Louis XIV: Established stability, heightened French prestige, and kept nobility in check.
He moved the seat of power to Versailles
He revoked the Edict de Nantes in 1685.
Louis the 14th wanted one king, one law, and one faith.
Mercantilism
Economic Theory that a country's power is determined by their wealth gold and silver
Jean Baptiste Colbert turns France into economic and artistic center of Europe.
Louis XIV
His domestic policies were insanely effective.
Most prestigious countries in Europe and central learning.
But, had, massive, soaring debts, high casualties because of the war and they lost territory
Absolutism In Russia - Peter the Great
Peter the Great wanted to rule effectively, wanted Russia to be the greatest country in the world.
To tame power of mobility
To gain secular control the Russian Orthodox Church.
To reorganize the internal structure the government.
To develop the Russian economy
The shaving of the beard to the to the nobles
To create warm water port
Russia still slow very slow, generally speaking to adapt and modernize.
Constitutionalism
Government is limited by a body of law, a constution
England and the Magna Carta
This medieval document, ratified in 1215, limits the power of King John by establishing, what would eventually be the parliament.
England and Charles I
Charles the fifth starts this English Civil War
Charles the fifth is going to disband parliament several times. Eventually, he tries to have them all arrested and this results in the English Civil War. This result is him getting the chop.
English civil war was this turning point that the king could not just do whatever they want.
The Glorious Revolution
Was this religious or was it political?
I think the question is part was it going on or was it can it be part of the Enlightning?
Parliament asked Mary to daughter of William and Mary to the take the throne and for them to sign the English of right establish constitutional
Hobbs v. Locke
Hobbs much more favor of the strong man approach because keeps people in check.
Locke belief people are guaranteed of natural rights, of life, liberty, and property.
Unit 4: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
Unit 4 in a Nutshell
Development of Scientific Reasoning.
Popularization of the Sciences.
Development of Enlightened ideas and thinking.
Key enlightenment thinkers.
Enlightened Despotism.
Scientific Revolution
Explosion of scientific ideas and theories eventually leading to the emergence of modern science.
Why Did it Happen?
Renaissance, exploration, and the Reformation challenged the old way the thinking.
Printing press and print culture.
Nicholas Copernicus
Credit to with heliocentric theory.
Challenges Aristotelian Way of thinking.
Publishes his book on his death bed Mostly because he scared as the Catholic Church coming after for.
Yohan Keppel
With three laws suggesting the planters never the plans never the cops were elliptical.
He can never is plain why we have elliptical orbits.
Galileo Galilee
First make new disc berries bow the word uses his newly invented telescope.
He says craters on the moon around Jupiter's. The sees is is that lot of things that we are saying just aren't true to gets him the hot waters with Church.
Sir Isaac Newton
Making is of the one of the most important Discovery of scientific revolution's. He in it said call schoolers composition delight lot of gravity.
He's gonna be pretty much a Rock star will come to popular Science's.
The Enlightenment
Takes place of the 1700s.
Popular Science's.
Go skeptic traditional authority, print culture, size globalization and access to new culture.
Bacons and and, decarted to emphasize important uses am pear kill ever is it to and tests about hypothesis, threw a evidence
Key Enlightened Thinkers
Voltaire, big religious toleration guy, civil liberty's criticizing is the, as an absolute, over mint.
Rousseau, Society corrupt human is the person.
Dennis Ditterot, publishes in cycle Peaty is the, A perfect, all access knowledge with his one the big themes.
Sassari Bakaria, A talks a lot Criminal Justice in Echo punishments he decrees the death penalty in or he says but, is that the death penalties wrong that it's create pro problem for this of no torture, not. Crew unusual punishment torture
Month SQ: Talk about separated powers by is and execute body
Mary Stone cough, is another one our early feminist
Enlightened Despotism
You're pin rulers adopt ideas of Enlightenment's
There's not do the thing that Catherine the great
Is the are a little bit what happens Catherine great and her is to attempt legal the code for form she just gently attem to steel. The the, is and light and lightened principles.
Partitioning a Poland.
1648 to 1815: Age of Empires, Enlightenment, and Revolution
Wars and Conflicts
The Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-1674): A series of naval conflicts between England and the Netherlands for control over trade routes and maritime supremacy. These wars reflected mercantilist policies and competition for global dominance.
The Nine Years' War (1688-1697): A major conflict involving multiple European powers against France under Louis XIV. It was sparked by French expansionist policies and resulted in the League of Augsburg to check French power.
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714): Triggered by the death of the childless Charles II of Spain, this war involved a struggle for the Spanish throne between the Bourbons (France) and the Habsburgs (Austria), reshaping the balance of power in Europe and leading to the Treaty of Utrecht.
The Great Northern War (1700-1721): A conflict in which Russia, allied with several other powers, challenged Sweden's dominance in the Baltic region, resulting in Russia's emergence as a major European power.
The Seven Years' War (1756-1763): A global conflict involving major European powers, fought in Europe, North America, and India. It resulted in significant territorial changes and shifted the balance of power, particularly between Britain and France. (Treaty of Paris, 1763)(Treaty of Paris, 1763) ended the war.
The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815): A series of major conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies against a fluctuating array of European powers. Dominated by Napoleon Bonaparte, the wars resulted in the reshaping of European political boundaries and the rise of British naval supremacy.
Revolutions and Political Shifts
The English Restoration (1660): The return of the monarchy in England with Charles II, following the period of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. It marked a shift away from Puritan rule and a re-establishment of the Anglican Church.
The Glorious Revolution (1688): The overthrow of King James II of England by William of Orange and Mary, establishing a constitutional monarchy and the English Bill of Rights, limiting royal power and guaranteeing certain rights and liberties.
The Enlightenment (1715-1789): An influential intellectual and cultural movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism. Key thinkers advocated for separation of powers, natural rights, and the social contract, challenging traditional authority.
The American Revolution (1775-1783): A colonial revolt against British rule, influenced by Enlightenment ideals. The successful establishment of the United States had profound impacts on Europe and inspired revolutionary movements.
The French Revolution (1789-1799): A period of radical social and political upheaval in France that overthrew the monarchy, challenged traditional hierarchies, and introduced concepts of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It included events such as the storming of the Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Alliances and Treaties
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648): Ended the Thirty Years' War, establishing the modern system of sovereign states and principles of non-interference.
The League of Augsburg (1686): An alliance formed to counter the expansionist policies of Louis XIV of France.
The Treaty of Utrecht (1713): A series of treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession, redrawing the map of Europe and establishing a new balance of power.
New Leaders
Louis XIV of France (1643-1715): The "Sun King," epitomized absolute monarchy. Centralized power, built the Palace of Versailles, and engaged in numerous wars to expand French influence.
Peter the Great of Russia (1682-1725): Westernized Russia, modernized the military, expanded the empire, and established St. Petersburg as the new capital.
Frederick the Great of Prussia (1740-1786): An enlightened absolutist who modernized the Prussian state, reformed the legal system, and expanded the military.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1799-1815): Transformed France into a dominant European power through military conquest. Instituted legal reforms, spread revolutionary ideas, and redrew the map of Europe before his defeat.
1815 to 1914: Industrialization, Nationalism, and Imperialism
Wars and Conflicts
The Crimean War (1853-1856): A conflict between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire. Resulted in Russian defeat. Highlighted military and technological disparities and led to reforms in Russia.
The Austro-Prussian War (1866): Resulted in Prussian dominance within Germany. Led to the formation of the North German Confederation.
The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871): A conflict between France and Prussia. Resulted in French defeat. Led to the unification of Germany and significant territorial losses for France.
The Boer Wars (1880-1881, 1899-1902): Conflicts between the British Empire and the Boers (Dutch settlers) in South Africa. Demonstrated the challenges of colonial warfare and led to reforms in the British military.
The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905): A conflict between Russia and Japan. Resulted in Japanese victory and highlighted Russia's weaknesses. Fueled revolutionary unrest in Russia.
Revolutions and Political Shifts
The Revolutions of 1830: A series of uprisings across Europe. Included the July Revolution in France, which led to the establishment of the constitutional July Monarchy.
The Revolutions of 1848: A wave of revolutions across Europe, driven by liberalism, nationalism, and social discontent. Resulted in limited reforms but demonstrated the potency of revolutionary movements.
The Unification of Italy (1861): A political and military process that unified the Italian peninsula into a single state under the House of Savoy.
The Unification of Germany (1871): A political and military process led by Otto von Bismarck that unified the German states into a single empire under Prussian leadership.
The Russian Revolution of 1905: A wave of political and social unrest in Russia that forced the Tsarist government to grant limited reforms, including the establishment of the Duma (parliament).
Alliances and Treaties
The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815): A conference of European powers that aimed to restore stability and order after the Napoleonic Wars. Redrew political boundaries and established a balance of power.
The Concert of Europe: An informal system of cooperation among European powers to maintain peace and suppress revolutionary movements.
The Triple Alliance (1882): A military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
The Triple Entente (1907): An understanding between Britain, France, and Russia, forming a counterweight to the Triple Alliance.
New Leaders
Otto von Bismarck (1862-1890): The Prussian statesman who masterminded the unification of Germany through skillful diplomacy and military force.
Queen Victoria (1837-1901): The monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Her reign was marked by industrial expansion, imperial growth, and social change.
Cavour (Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia): Played a crucial role in the unification of Italy through diplomatic and political maneuvering.
Different Political Shifts in Europe
Rise of Nationalism: The belief that people with a common language, culture, and history should form their own nation-state became a powerful force in Europe.
Growth of Liberalism: Emphasized individual rights, limited government, and constitutionalism.
Spread of Socialism: Advocated for social and economic equality through state intervention and collective ownership.
Expansion of Suffrage: Gradual expansion of voting rights to broader segments of the population.
Imperialism: Major European powers engaged in a scramble for colonies, leading to political tensions and conflicts.
1914 to the Early 2000s: World Wars, Cold War, and European Integration
Wars and Conflicts
World War I (1914-1918): A global conflict involving the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Russia, United States). Resulted in millions of casualties, the collapse of empires, and significant geopolitical changes.
Russian Civil War (1917-1922): A conflict between the Bolshevik government and anti-Bolshevik forces. Resulted in the consolidation of Soviet power and the establishment of the Soviet Union.
World War II (1939-1945): A global conflict involving the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States). Resulted in the defeat of fascism, the Holocaust, and the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers.
The Cold War (1947-1991): An ideological and geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. Shaped global politics for over four decades and led to numerous proxy wars and crises.
The Balkan Wars (1990s): A series of conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, including the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War. Involved ethnic cleansing, genocide, and international intervention.
Revolutions and Political Shifts
The Russian Revolution (1917): Overthrew the Tsarist regime and led to the establishment of the world's first communist state.
The Rise of Fascism and Nazism: The emergence of authoritarian ideologies in Italy and Germany, characterized by nationalism, militarism, and suppression of dissent.
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): A conflict between the Republican government and Nationalist rebels. Served as a testing ground for new military technologies and ideologies.
The Fall of Communism (1989-1991): The collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, leading to the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.
Alliances and Treaties
The Treaty of Versailles (1919): The peace treaty that ended World War I. Imposed harsh terms on Germany, leading to economic hardship and resentment.
The League of Nations: An international organization founded after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among nations.
The United Nations (1945): An international organization founded after World War II to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations.
NATO (1949): A military alliance between North American and European countries, formed to counter the threat of Soviet expansion.
The Warsaw Pact (1955): A military alliance between the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe.
The European Union (EU): An economic and political union of European countries, evolving from the European Economic Community (EEC) established in 1957.
New Leaders
Vladimir Lenin: The leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and the first head of the Soviet state.
Joseph Stalin: The dictator of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. Oversaw the forced collectivization of agriculture, the Great Purge, and the Soviet war effort during World War II.
Adolf Hitler: The leader of Nazi Germany. Initiated World War II and oversaw the Holocaust.
Winston Churchill: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Played a crucial role in leading the Allied war effort.
Mikhail Gorbachev: The leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Introduced reforms that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Different Political Shifts in Europe
Rise of Totalitarianism: The establishment of authoritarian regimes that sought to control all aspects of society.
Decolonization: The granting of independence to former colonies in Asia and Africa.
European Integration: The process of increasing political and economic cooperation among European countries.
The Welfare State: The development of social welfare programs to provide citizens with economic security and social services.
Increased Immigration: Significant influx of immigrants from other parts of the world, leading to cultural and social changes.