Absolutism
What is the definition of Absolutism
Absolutism is a political system in which a monarch, dictator, or ruler holds total, centralized, and unrestricted power over the government and the lives of the people. In an absolute monarchy, the ruler answers only to God, not to a legislative body, nobles, or their subjects.
What is the difference between the geocentric and heliocentric theories
The geocentric theory, supported by Ptolemy, posited that Earth was the center of the universe. The heliocentric theory, proposed by Copernicus, stated that the sun is the center of the universe, with Earth and other planets revolving around it.
What is the main idea behind John Locke’s "natural rights"
Locke argued that all individuals are born with fundamental rights to life, liberty, and property, which no government can take away.
What is my favorite dog?
Pug
What were the three Estates of French society before the revolution?
French society was divided into the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (commoners—ranging from bourgeoisie to peasants), with the Third Estate bearing the entire tax burden.
What is "Divine Right" and how did it support absolute monarchs
Divine Right is the political and religious doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, rather than from their subjects or parliament. This belief meant that questioning the monarch was deemed sinful, as it was equivalent to questioning God, which solidified the ruler's absolute, unquestionable authority.
Who was forced by the Catholic Church to recant his support for the heliocentric theory
Galileo Galilei. He was tried for heresy for supporting Copernicus's findings.
Which Enlightenment thinker is credited with the idea of "separation of powers" in government?
Montesquieu, who believed dividing government power among branches (executive, legislative, judicial) prevents tyranny.
What is my favorite food?
Chicken Alfredo
Why is the "Storming of the Bastille" on July 14, 1789, considered a key turning point?
A Parisian mob stormed the fortress-prison to seize gunpowder and weapons, symbolizing the violent dismantling of the King's despotic power and the start of the armed revolution.
Who is considered the ultimate example of an absolute monarch
King Louis XIV of France (reigned 1643–1715) is considered the prime example of an absolute monarch. Known as the "Sun King," he famously centralized French power by building the Palace of Versailles, forcing nobles to live there to keep them under control
What major scientific breakthrough did Isaac Newton contribute to the revolution?
Newton created the Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that every object in the universe is attracted to every other object through gravity.
What did Voltaire primarily advocate for during the Enlightenment?
Voltaire was a strong advocate for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the separation of church and state.
What color is the sky
Blue
What was the "Reign of Terror"?
A, period (1793–1794) during the revolution led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins, characterized by brutal repression and the mass execution of "enemies of the revolution" via the guillotine.
What were the primary causes for the rise of absolutism in Europe
The rise of absolutism was driven by the decline of feudalism, the weakening of the Catholic Church's political power, the growth of national kingdoms, and the need for stability during religious and territorial conflicts. The middle class often supported monarchs because they promised peace and stability, and rulers used this to build large, standing armies and bureaucracies.
How did Johannes Kepler improve upon the Copernican system?
Kepler developed the laws of planetary motion, which stated that orbits are elliptical (oval-shaped) rather than perfectly circular, and that planets do not move at uniform speeds.
What was the primary focus of the Encyclopedia edited by Denis Diderot?
The Encyclopedia aimed to collect and spread knowledge, promoting scientific, secular, and rational thought to better society and challenge old beliefs.
Whats my favorite color
black
What were the key principles declared in the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen"?
Adopted in 1789, it proclaimed that all men were born free and equal in rights, focusing on liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, effectively ending feudal privileges.
How did Peter the Great of Russia use absolutism to change his country
Peter the Great utilized absolute power to force rapid modernization and Westernization on Russia. He brought the Russian Orthodox Church under state control, reduced the power of the landowning nobles (boyars), built a new capital city (St. Petersburg), and expanded the military to secure a warm-water port.
What was the primary impact of the scientific method on knowledge?
It changed the way people understood the world by prioritizing systematic observation, experimentation, and evidence over traditional, dogmatic beliefs.
How did the Enlightenment differ from the previous era in its view of truth?
The Enlightenment moved away from relying solely on tradition and religious dogma to determine truth, favoring reason, logic, and scientific evidence.
What color is my shoes
Black and white
How did Napoleon Bonaparte come to power in 1799?
Following years of political instability under the Directory, Napoleon, a popular military leader, seized power in a coup d'état, ending the revolution and becoming the effective ruler of France.