Wars and Conflicts in Europe
What event sparked the Thirty Years’ War?
The Defenestration of Prague.
What is the definition of Absolutism?
A system where a ruler holds total power, claiming divine right.
Which English monarch clashed with Parliament over money and religion?
James I.
What was the main goal of the Scientific Revolution?
To understand the natural world through observation and reason instead of tradition.
What does the concept of “Balance of Power” mean in European diplomacy?
Maintaining equilibrium so no single nation dominates Europe.
Name two major causes of the Fronde in France.
High taxation and resistance to royal authority.
Who was known as the “Sun King”?
Louis XIV of France.
What was the outcome of the English Civil War?
Charles I was executed and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector.
Who proposed the heliocentric theory of the universe?
Nicolaus Copernicus.
What were the causes of the Dismemberment of Poland?
Weak central government and interference from powerful neighbors (Russia, Prussia, Austria).
What treaty ended the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713?
The Peace of Utrecht.
What was the political purpose of building the Palace of Versailles?
To display royal power and control the nobility by keeping them close to the king.
What was the New Model Army?
A disciplined, Parliament-led army organized by Cromwell during the English Civil War.
What was Isaac Newton’s major scientific contribution?
The laws of motion and universal gravitation.
What is the Divine Right theory?
The belief that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, not from the consent of the governed.
What was the outcome of the Seven Years’ War for France?
France lost many of its colonial territories, including Canada, to Britain.
Which finance minister helped Louis XIV strengthen the economy through mercantilism?
Jean-Baptiste Colbert.
What was the Glorious Revolution?
The peaceful overthrow of James II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William and Mary.
Define the Enlightenment in one sentence.
An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, progress, and individual rights over tradition and authority.
What was the role of the Politiques in France?
They prioritized national unity over religious conflict.
What was the Diplomatic Revolution and how did it change alliances in Europe?
It reversed traditional alliances—Austria allied with France, while Britain allied with Prussia.
Name one reform by Peter the Great that helped westernize Russia.
Built a navy, reformed the army, modernized the government, or introduced Western customs.
What agreement did Charles II secretly make with Louis XIV?
The Treaty of Dover—Charles promised to convert to Catholicism in exchange for money.
What did Rousseau argue in his Social Contract?
That government should be based on the general will and that people have a right to revolt against unjust rulers.
How did Enlightened Absolutists like Joseph II and Catherine the Great apply Enlightenment ideas?
They implemented reforms such as religious tolerance, education, and legal equality while retaining absolute power.