Chapter 2: Key Concepts/Events and People

 

Key Concepts:

 

            Thirty Years’ War- End of war resulted in a big change regarding the way countries dealt with each other.

                        Treaty of Westphalia- Marked the end of the 30 years war in 1648.

                        Scientific revolution- Struck a conflict between ideas of individuals and the ideas of the church. Simply put, the scientific revolution was a time when people began to look for the answers to questions regarding the make-up of the earth, and the people living on it. From the shape of the world to the circulation of blood in a persons body many theories developed to find out how these things worked.

                        Absolutism- When one person has total control over a nation. An example of this is King Louis XIV.

                        Fronde- A political party in France, during the minority of Louis XIV, who opposed the government, and made war upon the court party.

                        Palace of Versailles- Located 30 km from Paris, took almost 20 years to complete. It was a grand Palace built to showcase the power of King Louis XIV. The goal of every noble man and women was to be invited to stay at the Palace. The French aristocracy gave up its power in order to live in the Palace leading to absolutism. In the end the Palace helped enhance King Louis XIV’s role in France.

                        Mercantilism- Used to Westernize society. Big towns were able to offer selection that small towns could not. Families took trips to the city to buy supplies such as rice, and then enjoy the town before returning home.

                        War of the Spanish Succession- War lasted 11 years (1702-1713). The grand alliance consisting of European powers defeated the French resulting in Louis XIV accepting the Peace of Utrecht.  

                        Restoration- Period in which the Monarch returned to the throne after Charles I was killed. His son Charles II would become the new leader 11 years later, but have less power than the Monarch.

Constitutionalism- Government in which power is distributed and limited by a system of laws that must be obeyed by the rulers. (i.e. Charles II and the monarch).

                        Glorious Revolution- Occurred in 1685 when James II became the new leader of England when his brother Charles II died. He wanted to restore the Roman Catholic faith and bring back the power of the English Monarch, which was against the beliefs of his people. William of Orange then invaded England and became the new ruler.

 

Key People:  

 Galileo- Gathered evidence to support Copernicus. Proved motion can be described mathematically. Proved moon had a rough surface, Jupiter had moons, sun has spots. Wrote Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World.

                        Isaac Newton- (1642-1727) 3 laws of motion. 1) An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless something acts against it. 2) A change in motion is equal to the force used in the opposite direction. 3) For every action force there is a reaction in another direction.

                        William Harvey- Key to scientific revolution, he concentrated his studies on the heart. Believed the heart was more like a pump than a filtration plant. Realized blood circulates throughout the body. Wrote On the Motion of the Heart and Blood, in Animals in 1628.

            Rene Descartes- “I think therefore I am.” The only truth man knows is that we exist.

                        Thomas Hobbes- Wrote Leviathan, explained the justification of a government. Humans by nature are selfish and aggressive, in a quest for food, shelter, and safety would become “short, nasty, and brutish.” Only an absolute sovereign could bring peace.

                        John Locke- Believed people co-operate to help each other. People give up some freedoms for the benefits of a big society. (Known as a social contract). Power was in the hands of society since they could overthrow a leader they did not like.

                        Louis XIV- Known as “The Sun King.” Was able to make France an absolute government.

                        Peter the Great- Transformed Russia into a modern state.  (Westernization). Became the absolute sovereign of Russia in 1696.

                        Charles I- A very stubborn leader. Lead to 11 years of tyranny because parliament would not grant tax increases. As he lead a group of horsemen to arrest his opponents in the house of commons, he was captured and beheaded by orders of the parliament as he would not compromise.

                        Gianlorenzo Bernini- Was the most successful sculptor of baroque era. Known for statue of David in action.

                        Moliere- Playwright from France in the 17th century. He founded a company named L’Illustre Theatre. Performed a poor play for King Louis the XIV followed by a great one. He was invited to live in Paris.