Unit II Key Terms

Early Modern France

• Divine Right of Kings

  • The belief that monarchs derive their authority directly from God.

• Henry of Navarre

  • First monarch of the House of Bourbon; known for his role in the French Wars of Religion. When Henry III Died, Henry Navarre took the throne by fighting his way through catholic troops.

• Absolutism

  • A political doctrine where a single ruler holds absolute power. The goal was to control every aspect of society including religion

• Estates General

  • A legislative assembly representing the three estates of the realm: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

• Cardinal Richelieu

  • Chief minister to Louis XIII; strengthened the monarchy and centralized power. Two primary goals were to centralize power in France and oppose the Habsburg dynasty because he saw them as a political threat to the stability of France.

• Louis XIII

  • King of France; his reign saw the consolidation of royal power.

• Cardinal Mazarin

  • Successor to Richelieu; played a key role during the Fronde.

• The Fronde

  • A series of civil wars in France during the early reign of Louis XIV.

• Louis XIV

  • Known as the Sun King; the epitome of absolute monarchy and built the Palace of Versailles.

• Versailles

  • The grand palace built by Louis XIV, symbolizing royal power.

• Jean-Baptiste Colbert

  • Minister of Finance under Louis XIV; promoted mercantilism.

• Huguenots in France

  • French Protestants who faced persecution; significant in the context of religious wars.

• War of Spanish Succession

  • A major European conflict over the succession to the Spanish throne.

• League of Augsburg

  • A coalition formed against France during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Early Modern England

• Magna Carta

  • A charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215; foundational to constitutional law.

• Second Barons’ War

  • A conflict between King Henry III and rebellious barons.

• Parliament

  • The legislative body in England; evolved to represent the interests of the people.

• Model Parliament

  • A parliament summoned by Edward I in 1295 that included commoners.

• Sumptuary Laws

  • Regulations governing consumption and personal expenditure.

• Puritans

  • A religious group seeking to purify the Church of England; influential in the English Civil War.

• Constitutional Monarchy

  • A system of government where a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.

• James I

  • The first monarch of the Stuart dynasty; known for the King James Bible.

• Charles I

  • His reign led to the English Civil War; executed for treason.

• Petition of Rights

  • A constitutional document that limited the king's power.

• Long Parliament

  • The English Parliament that lasted from 1640 until 1660; pivotal in the Civil War.

• English Civil War

  • A conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists; resulted in the temporary overthrow of the monarchy.

• Oliver Cromwell

  • Leader of the Parliamentarian victory; ruled as Lord Protector.

• England vs. France (Early Modern Monarchy)

  • A comparison of the political structures and conflicts between the two nations.

Scientific Revolution

• Neoplatonism

  • A philosophical system that reinterprets Plato's ideas.

• Hermetic Doctrine

  • A religious and philosophical system based on writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.

• Empirical Method

  • A method of knowledge acquisition based on observation and experimentation.

• Geocentric model

  • The astronomical model where Earth is at the center of the universe.

• Heliocentric model

  • The astronomical model proposed by Copernicus, placing the Sun at the center.

• Copernicus

  • Astronomer who formulated the heliocentric theory.

• Galileo Galilei

  • Key figure in the Scientific Revolution; known for his work in astronomy and physics.

• Galileo and the Church

  • His conflict with the Catholic Church over heliocentrism.

• Johannes Kepler

  • Known for his laws of planetary motion.

• Isaac Newton

  • Formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

• Andreas Vesalius

  • Founder of modern human anatomy.

• William Harvey

  • Discovered the circulation of blood.

• Anton van Leeuwenhoek

  • Pioneered microscopy and discovered microorganisms.

• Francis Bacon

  • Advocated for the scientific method and empirical research.

• Rene Descartes

  • Philosopher known for Cartesian dualism; "I think, therefore I am."

• Cartesian Dualism

  • The idea that mind and body are distinct entities.

The Enlightenment

• Philosophes

  • Intellectuals of the Enlightenment who promoted reason and scientific thought.

• Salons

  • Social gatherings where intellectuals discussed ideas.

• Royal societies

  • Organizations promoting scientific research and knowledge.

• Thomas Hobbes

  • Philosopher known for his social contract theory; believed in absolute sovereignty.

• John Locke

  • Advocated for natural rights and government by consent.

• Social Contract

  • The theory that individuals consent to form a government for protection of their rights.

• David Hume

  • Philosopher known for his empiricism and skepticism.

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  • Believed in the inherent goodness of man and the corrupting influence of society.

• Voltaire

  • Critic of the Church and advocate for civil liberties.

• Denis Diderot

  • Co-founder of the Encyclopédie, promoting Enlightenment ideas.

• Adam Smith

  • Economist known for his ideas on capitalism and free markets.

• Deism

  • Belief in a rational God who does not intervene in the universe.

• Women in the Enlightenment

  • Notable figures like Mary Wollstonecraft and Madame Pompadour who contributed to Enlightenment thought.

• Mary Wollstonecraft

  • Early advocate for women's rights and education.

• Madame Pompadour

  • Influential patron of the arts and culture in France.

• Enlightened Absolutism

  • Monarchs who embraced Enlightenment ideas while maintaining absolute power.

• Enlightened Despots

  • Rulers who implemented reforms based on Enlightenment principles.

Enlightenment and Race

• Triangular Trade

  • Trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving slaves and goods.

• African slave trade

  • The forced transportation of Africans to the Americas for labor.

• Enlightenment abolition efforts

  • Movements during the Enlightenment advocating for the end of slavery.

War of Austrian Succession

• HRE Charles VI

  • His death led to the War of Austrian Succession.

• Pragmatic Sanction

  • A diplomatic agreement to ensure Maria Theresa's succession.

• Maria Theresa

  • The only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions; faced challenges to her rule.

• Frederick II of Prussia

  • Opponent of Maria Theresa; initiated conflict over Silesia.

• Treaty of Aix la Chapelle

  • Ended the War of Austrian Succession; restored the status quo.

Early Modern European Colonization

• Joint-stock companies

  • Businesses owned by shareholders; crucial for funding exploration.

• British East India Trading Company

  • Major player in British colonial expansion in India.

• Dutch East India Trading Company

  • Key in Dutch trade and colonization efforts.

Diplomatic Revolution of 1756

• Seven Years' War

  • Global conflict involving most of the great powers; reshaped colonial empires.

• Treaty of Paris

  • Ended the Seven Years' War; significant territorial changes.

• Treaty of Hubertusburg

  • Ended the conflict in Europe