What is Absolutism?
Consolidation of sovereign power into a single ruler or monarch.
What is Monarchical Sovereignty?
The supreme authority of a monarch within their territory, free from external interference.
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
The theory that a ruler's authority comes directly from God.
Define 'intendants'.
Royal officials used by absolute monarchs, such as Louis XIV, to administer provinces and enforce royal decrees.
What was the Table of Ranks?
A system implemented by Peter the Great in Russia to create opportunities for non-nobles to serve the state and join the nobility based on merit and service.
What is meant by 'balance of power'?
A distribution of power among several states such that no single state can dominate or interfere with the interests of another.
Define 'mercantilism'.
An economic theory that promotes governmental regulation of a nation’s economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers.
What is a 'standing army'?
A permanent, professional army maintained even in peacetime, allowing for quicker mobilization and greater military power.
What is 'centralization of power'?
The process by which power is concentrated in a single authority or entity, especially a government.
Define 'edict'.
An official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.
What was the significance of the Thirty Years’ War?
Led to political and religious chaos, increased military power for rulers, and contributed to the rise of absolutism.
What was the Dutch Revolt?
The Dutch fought for independence from the Spanish Habsburgs, leading to the Dutch Republic.
What was the Defenestration of Prague?
Czech resistance against the Holy Roman Empire, a key event leading to the Thirty Years' War.
What was the revocation of the Edict of Nantes?
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, ending religious tolerance for Protestants in France.
What was the Great Northern War?
A conflict in which Russia, under Peter the Great, fought Sweden for control of the Baltic Sea, resulting in Russia gaining access to a warm-water port and becoming a major European power.
What was the War of the Spanish Succession?
A major European conflict triggered by the death of the last Habsburg ruler of Spain, Charles II, which resulted in the Bourbon Philip V becoming King of Spain but with limitations to prevent the union of the French and Spanish thrones.
What was the Peace of Westphalia?
A series of peace treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and established the modern state system in Europe.
What was the Fronde?
A series of civil wars in France between 1648 and 1653, during the minority of Louis XIV, caused by opposition to royal policies and attempts to limit royal power.
What was the English Civil War?
A series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists in the Kingdom of England over the manner of its government.
What was the Glorious Revolution?
The overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch William III, resulting in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Compare Louis XIV and Peter the Great.
Both consolidated power through centralizing administration and controlling the nobility, but their methods differed due to unique contexts. Louis XIV used Versailles, while Peter the Great used the Table of Ranks.
Compare the English Civil War and the Fronde.
Both were conflicts that challenged royal authority, but the English Civil War resulted in the execution of the monarch, while the Fronde led to a temporary weakening of the monarchy.
Compare the goals of mercantilism in France and England.
Both France and England used mercantilist policies to increase national wealth and power, but their approaches and specific industries they supported differed based on their respective economic strengths.
Compare the impacts of the Thirty Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession.
The Thirty Years' War led to the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire and the rise of sovereign states, while the War of the Spanish Succession aimed to maintain the balance of power in Europe and prevent French dominance.
Compare the roles of nobles in France and Russia under absolutist rule.
In France, Louis XIV controlled nobles through court life at Versailles, while in Russia, Peter the Great used the Table of Ranks to integrate nobles into state service.
Compare the use of religion by Louis XIV and Peter the Great.
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes to enforce religious uniformity, while Peter the Great brought the Russian Orthodox Church under state control.
Compare the causes of the Dutch Revolt and the Defenestration of Prague.
The Dutch Revolt was caused by religious persecution and political oppression by the Spanish Habsburgs, while the Defenestration of Prague was sparked by Czech resistance to Habsburg rule.
Compare the outcomes of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution.
The English Civil War led to the temporary abolition of the monarchy, while the Glorious Revolution resulted in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Compare the military reforms of Louis XIV and Peter the Great.
Louis XIV created a standing army and standardized military practices, while Peter the Great modernized the Russian army and navy based on Western models.
Compare the economic policies of Colbert and Peter the Great.
Colbert implemented mercantilist policies to strengthen the French economy, while Peter the Great focused on industrial development and state-controlled trade.
