1700-1800 Notes

Historical Monarchs

Key Monarchs

  • Frederick William I

  • Frederick II ("The Great")

  • Maria Theresa

  • Catherine the Great

  • Joseph II

  • Louis XIV

Influential Thinkers

Philosophers and Writers

  • Voltaire

  • Montesquieu

  • Rousseau

  • Madame du Chatelet

  • d'Alembert

Artistic Movements

Art Styles

  • Rococo

    • Characterized by ornate detailing, lightness, elegance, and an exuberant use of curves.

  • Neo-classical

    • Marked by a return to classical ideas of simplicity and symmetry, inspired by the art of ancient Greece and Rome.

Health and Medicine

Significant Medical Practices

  • Smallpox Inoculation

    • An early method of vaccination against smallpox that involved introducing material from smallpox sores into healthy individuals to provide immunity.

Social Issues

Population Trends

  • Illegitimacy Explosion

    • A noted rise in the number of illegitimate births during this period, reflecting societal changes in family structure and sexual norms.

  • Population Rise

    • General increase in population numbers, contributing to various social and economic changes.

Political Developments

Key Individuals

  • Louis XVI

Religious Movements

Religious Groups

  • Methodists

  • Catholicism

  • Pietism

  • Orthodox Revival

  • Deism

Economic Evolution

Economic Systems

  • Mercantilism

    • An economic theory that emphasizes the role of the state in managing the economy to increase national wealth through trade.

  • Agricultural Revolution

    • A period of significant agricultural development that saw improvements in farming techniques and productivity.

  • Cottage Industry/Putting-Out System

    • An early form of industrial production where work was done at home rather than in factories, often involving small-scale artisans and craftsmen.

Revolutionary Events

Major Wars and Revolutions

  • War of Spanish Succession

    • A conflict that determined who would succeed to the Spanish throne, ending with the Treaty of Utrecht.

  • War of Austrian Succession

    • A series of wars in which various powers contested the rule over Austria and its territories.

  • Seven Years' War

    • A global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763, culminating in the Treaty of Paris.

  • American Revolution

    • A colonial revolt against British rule, leading to the establishment of the United States, concluded with the Treaty of Paris.

  • French Revolution

    • A period of radical social and political change in France that marked the end of absolute monarchy and paved the way for modern democracy.

  • Laws of the French Revolution

    • A series of laws indicating a complete reorganization of French society, including the Reign of Terror and the establishment of constitutional governance.

  • End of the Feudal System in France

    • Marked by the abolition of feudal privileges, leading to a focus on individual rights and national citizenship.