The Ancien Régime: Society, Economy, and Politics
What were Ancien Régime societies like?
Estates system. They were hierarchical, with strict divisions between the clergy, nobility, and commoners, and dominated by monarchy and Church.
What are the characteristics of an absolute monarchy?
Absolute monarchies are characterized by centralized power, with the monarch holding all legislative, executive, and judicial authority, often justified by the divine right of kings.
What is subsistence agriculture?
A type of farming where people grow food primarily to feed themselves and their families.
What were the aims of the Enlightenment?
To apply reason and scientific thinking to improve human society and challenge traditional authority.
Which Enlightenment philosopher proposed the separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny?
Montesquieu
New farming techniques like this one led to an increase in agricultural production during the 18th century.
Crop rotation
Which belief was central to absolutism in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries?
The king's authority comes directly from God (Divine right).
Explain triangular trade routes and how the system worked. Describe the flow of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Europe sent manufactured goods to Africa, Africa sent enslaved people to the Americas, and the Americas sent raw materials to Europe. This system enriched European economies and devastated African societies.
Why did the monarchy and the Church censor the Encyclopédie?
Because it challenged traditional authority, especially the power of the monarchy and the Church.
Which Enlightenment thinker is best known for his advocacy of civil liberties, especially freedom of speech, and his criticism of religious intolerance?
Voltaire
Why did Europe's population and agricultural and manufacturing production increase during this period?
Due to new farming techniques, technological innovations, industrial growth, and improved living conditions, including a decrease in famine and disease.
Which ruler, known as the "Sun King," ruled France as an absolute monarch and built the Palace of Versailles?
Louis XIV
Why is Carlos III considered the “best mayor of Madrid?”
He implemented reforms that modernized the city. He improved public sanitation, built new roads, and introduced street lighting. He also oversaw the construction of key landmarks like the Puerta de Alcalá and the Cibeles Fountain. His efforts helped transform Madrid into a cleaner, more organized, and vibrant city, contributing to its development as a European capital.
What was the role of women in the Enlightenment?
Women participated in salons, where they hosted and facilitated discussions, helping to spread Enlightenment ideas.
Which Enlightenment philosopher believed that government should reflect the "general will" of the people and argued for a social contract?
Rousseau
How did the political power of the nobility and the monarchy affect commoners during the Ancien Régime?
The monarchy had absolute control, levying high taxes on the commoners while exempting the privileged classes, leading to economic difficulties for the common people.
What political system was an alternative to absolute monarchy in 18th-century England?
A parliamentary monarchy
What was the significance of the Treaty of Utrecht (1713)?
It ended the War of Spanish Succession and reorganized European territorial control.
Who was the editor of the Encyclopédie, which sought to compile all human knowledge and challenge traditional authority?
Denis Diderot
Which English philosopher introduced the idea that government exists to protect "life, liberty, and property," influencing modern democracy?
John Locke
What was the role of the Church in Ancien Régime societies?
The Church had significant influence, not only in religious matters but also in politics, education, and moral authority. It also controlled large amounts of land and wealth.
What phrase, often used to describe enlightened despotism, translates to "Everything for the people, but nothing by the people"?
"Todo para el pueblo, pero sin el pueblo"
Why were American colonists unhappy with British rule?
They were upset because they had to pay taxes but had no representation in British Parliament.
Which class of wealthy, educated middle-class merchants and professionals played a significant role in supporting Enlightenment ideas?
The bourgeoisie
Which female Enlightenment thinker is best known for advocating women's rights and gender equality in her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman?
Mary Wollstonecraft