Glossary
Absolutism
A form of government where the monarch holds supreme, unchecked power, often claiming divine right and centralizing control over the state.
Example:
Louis XIV's reign in France exemplified absolutism, as he famously declared "L'état, c'est moi" ("I am the state"), consolidating all power in his own hands.
Agricultural Revolution
A period of significant agricultural innovation and increased productivity in Europe, characterized by new farming techniques, crop rotation, and changes in land ownership.
Example:
The Agricultural Revolution in Britain, with its emphasis on scientific farming and selective breeding, laid the groundwork for the subsequent Industrial Revolution by freeing up labor and increasing food supply.
Atlantic Slave Trade
The forced transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, primarily to work on plantations producing cash crops, which generated immense profits for European merchants and states.
Example:
The Atlantic Slave Trade fueled the sugar economies of the Caribbean, providing cheap labor that made vast fortunes for European colonial powers and merchants.
Balance of Power
A diplomatic principle in European relations aimed at preventing any single state from becoming too powerful and dominating others, often through alliances and warfare.
Example:
European nations frequently formed coalitions to maintain the balance of power, such as during the wars against Louis XIV, to prevent French hegemony.
Constitutionalism
A political system where the power of the government is limited by a constitution, laws, and established customs, often involving a shared power between a monarch and a representative body.
Example:
England's shift to constitutionalism after 1688 meant that even the king had to abide by laws passed by Parliament, unlike the absolute monarchs on the continent.
Enclosure Movement
The process in England of consolidating communal open fields and common lands into privately owned, fenced-off plots, leading to increased agricultural efficiency but also displacement of rural populations.
Example:
The enclosure movement forced many small farmers and landless peasants off their traditional lands, driving them to seek work in burgeoning urban centers or factories.
English Civil War
A mid-17th century conflict in England between Parliament and King Charles I, primarily over political power and religious differences.
Example:
The English Civil War saw Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army defeat the Royalists, leading to the unprecedented execution of a reigning monarch.
Glorious Revolution
The largely bloodless overthrow of King James II of England in 1688 by Parliament, which invited William of Orange and Mary to take the throne.
Example:
The Glorious Revolution cemented Parliament's power over the monarchy, paving the way for a Bill of Rights that limited royal authority.
Mercantilism
An economic theory and policy prevalent in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, advocating for government regulation of the economy to maximize exports, accumulate wealth (especially gold and silver), and establish colonies for raw materials and markets.
Example:
France's finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert implemented mercantilism by promoting domestic industries, imposing high tariffs on foreign goods, and establishing colonies to ensure a favorable balance of trade.
Potatoes
A new crop introduced to Europe from the Americas that significantly increased food availability and supported population growth.
Example:
The widespread adoption of potatoes in Ireland, despite its later tragic consequences during the Famine, initially provided a cheap and abundant food source for the growing population.
Putting-out System
A pre-industrial system of production where merchants provided raw materials to rural households, who then produced finished goods at home, often textiles, for the merchant to sell.
Example:
Under the putting-out system, a merchant might deliver wool to a peasant family, who would spin it into yarn and weave it into cloth in their cottage, earning a small wage for their labor.
Sovereignty
The supreme, independent authority within a territory, allowing a state to govern itself without external interference.
Example:
After the Peace of Westphalia, European states increasingly asserted their sovereignty, recognizing no higher political power within their borders.