Wars of Religion
This massacre during the French Wars of Religion, occurring in 1572, targeted Huguenots and intensified conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.
What is the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre?
In 1556, this Holy Roman Emperor abdicated his vast empire, dividing his territories between his son Philip II of Spain and his brother Ferdinand I.
Who is Charles V?
Known for the phrase "I think, therefore I am," this philosopher emphasized doubt as a fundamental tool for acquiring knowledge.
Who is René Descartes?
This Tudor monarch, known for her "Bloody" reign attempted to restore Catholicism in England during her reign.
Who is Mary I or Mary Tudor?
This 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, featuring Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, popularized many modern Christmas traditions.
What is A Christmas Carol?
This document, issued by Henry IV in 1598, granted limited rights to Huguenots and marked the end of the French Wars of Religion.
What is the Edict of Nantes?
This series of conflicts, including the War of Devolution and the Franco-Dutch War, were fought by Louis XIV to expand French territory and secure natural borders.
What are Louis XIV’s Wars of Expansion?
This thinker developed an empirical approach to science that laid the foundation for modern experimentation.
Who is Francis Bacon?
Known as the "Virgin Queen," this ruler defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 and oversaw England’s Golden Age.
Who is Elizabeth I?
This German reformer is often credited with introducing the practice of decorating a Christmas tree, inspired by a starry night sky.
Who is Martin Luther?
Signed in 1648, this series of treaties ended the Thirty Years’ War and established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio in Europe.
What is the Treaty of Westphalia?
This 1683 battle marked the turning point in the Ottoman-Habsburg wars, where Austrian forces, aided by Polish King John III Sobieski, decisively defeated the Turks.
What is the Battle of Vienna?
This Enlightenment writer used satire to challenge optimism and critique societal flaws in his works.
Who is Voltaire?
This Spanish king, husband of Mary I, sought to strengthen Catholicism in Europe and launched the failed Armada against England.
Who is Philip II?
This Alpine folklore figure, known for punishing misbehaving children, is often depicted as a horned creature and serves as a darker counterpart to St. Nicholas.
Who is Krampus?
This Swedish king, known as the "Lion of the North," revolutionized military tactics during the Thirty Years’ War before his death at the Battle of Lützen in 1632.
Who is Gustavus Adolphus?
This 1713 decree issued by Emperor Charles VI sought to ensure that his daughter, Maria Theresa, would inherit the Habsburg dominions without dispute.
What is the Pragmatic Sanction?
This philosopher advocated for the concept of the General Will, emphasizing collective desires as the foundation of governance in The Social Contract.
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
This queen of Scotland, a cousin of Elizabeth I, was executed for her involvement in plots against the English throne.
Who is Mary, Queen of Scots?
Celebrated on December 13, this Scandinavian holiday honors a saint associated with light, where young girls wear crowns of candles to symbolize hope during the dark winter.
What is St. Lucia’s Day?
This Catholic French cardinal orchestrated France’s involvement in the Thirty Years’ War, allying with Protestant states to counter Habsburg power.
Who is Cardinal Richelieu?
This treaty, signed in 1713, ended the War of Spanish Succession and restricted Louis XIV’s ambitions, allowing his grandson to inherit the Spanish throne under strict conditions.
What is the Treaty of Utrecht?
Often hosted by influential women, these Enlightenment-era gatherings in Paris featured intellectual debates led by this type of individual.
Who are salonnières?
This first Stuart monarch of England authorized a famous translation of the Bible and advocated for divine right monarchy.
Who is King James I?
This 16th-century English tradition, involving the singing of carols from house to house, was initially meant to bring blessings and good fortune to homes during the Christmas season.
What is wassailing?