All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify the political system where power is centralized in a monarch.
Answer: Absolutism. Power concentrated in one ruler with minimal constitutional limits.
Flashcard 2: Which event marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789?
Answer: The Storming of the Bastille. Symbolic attack on royal authority and political oppression.
Flashcard 3: Who was the first Stuart king of England?
Answer: James I. United English and Scottish crowns under one monarch.
Flashcard 4: Which 1688 event led to the establishment of constitutional monarchy in England?
Answer: The Glorious Revolution. Bloodless coup that established Parliamentary supremacy over monarchy.
Flashcard 5: Which 16th-century ruler is known for initiating the Reformation in England?
Answer: Henry VIII. Broke with Rome to gain control over English Church.
Flashcard 6: What was the main economic policy of Louis XIV's finance minister Colbert?
Answer: Mercantilism. State-controlled economy to maximize exports and minimize imports.
Flashcard 7: What was the main cause of the English Civil War?
Answer: Conflict between Parliament and monarchy over governance. Charles I's attempts at absolutism clashed with Parliamentary rights.
Flashcard 8: What was the primary goal of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648?
Answer: To end the Thirty Years' War and establish state sovereignty. Established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio on a larger scale.
Flashcard 9: Which war marked the rise of Prussia as a major European power?
Answer: The War of Austrian Succession. Frederick the Great's victories established Prussia as a great power.
Flashcard 10: What treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession in 1713?
Answer: The Treaty of Utrecht. Prevented French domination of Europe under the Bourbons.
Flashcard 11: Which monarch is known for the westernization of Russia?
Answer: Peter the Great. Founded St. Petersburg and modernized Russian military and administration.
Flashcard 12: Name the political theory advocating that kings derive authority from God.
Answer: Divine Right of Kings. Justified absolute monarchy through religious authority.
Flashcard 13: What was the primary purpose of the Edict of Nantes in 1598?
Answer: To grant religious tolerance to Huguenots in France. Protected French Protestant minority from Catholic persecution.
Flashcard 14: Identify the document that limited the power of the English monarchy in 1215.
Answer: Magna Carta. First major document restricting royal power in favor of nobles.
Flashcard 15: What was the significance of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648?
Answer: It recognized the sovereignty of over 300 German princes. Fragmented Holy Roman Empire and strengthened state sovereignty principles.
Flashcard 16: Who was the Holy Roman Emperor during the start of the Thirty Years' War?
Answer: Ferdinand II. His Counter-Reformation policies triggered the devastating conflict.
Flashcard 17: Which 18th-century movement emphasized reason and individualism?
Answer: The Enlightenment. Challenged traditional authority through rational thinking and scientific method.
Flashcard 18: What was the primary outcome of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555?
Answer: It allowed princes to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism for their territories. Established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio.
Flashcard 19: Identify the 17th-century Dutch financial system known for its innovation.
Answer: The Amsterdam Stock Exchange. World's first modern stock exchange revolutionized global finance.
Flashcard 20: Which 1713 treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession?
Answer: The Treaty of Utrecht. Prevented French domination of Europe under the Bourbons.
Flashcard 21: What was the primary cause of the Seven Years' War?
Answer: Colonial rivalry between Britain and France. Global conflict over control of North American territories.
Flashcard 22: Which 18th-century ruler was known for patronizing the arts and sciences?
Answer: Frederick the Great. Enlightened despot who promoted culture while maintaining absolute rule.
Flashcard 23: Identify the leader who initiated the Bourbon Restoration in France.
Answer: Louis XVIII. Restored Bourbon monarchy after Napoleon's defeat.
Flashcard 24: Which treaty ended the American Revolutionary War in 1783?
Answer: The Treaty of Paris. Recognized American independence and British territorial losses.
Flashcard 25: Name the 19th-century movement aimed at Italian unification.
Answer: The Risorgimento. Italian nationalist movement meaning 'resurgence' or 'revival'.
Flashcard 26: What was the primary goal of the 1848 Revolutions in Europe?
Answer: To achieve national independence and liberal reforms. Widespread democratic and nationalist uprisings across Europe.
Flashcard 27: Identify the architect of German unification in the 19th century.
Answer: Otto von Bismarck. Used 'blood and iron' policy to unite German states.
Flashcard 28: Which 17th-century conflict was primarily religious and political in nature?
Answer: The Thirty Years' War. Devastated Central Europe with religious and political warfare.
Flashcard 29: What was the primary economic policy of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century?
Answer: Trade and commerce. Maritime empire built on banking, shipping, and global trade.
Flashcard 30: Who led the Puritan Commonwealth in England after the Civil War?
Answer: Oliver Cromwell. Established republican government after executing Charles I.