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1500 - 1700
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The era of scientific thought in europe between the 16th and 18th centuries during which careful observation of the natural world was made, and accepted beliefs were questioned. Heliocentric theory, Galileo, Copernicus, etc.
1517 - 1648
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Led by Martin Luther's 95 Thesis or Martin Luther's 95 problems with the Catholic church. This ended religious unity in Europe.
1600 - 1800
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At the time, to become more western meant four things:
To make their governments more centralized
To adopt Western economics (commercialization instead of serfdom/peasant agr)
To improve their military structure and technology
To adopt Western culture and ideas, if possible
1600 - 1800
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The belief that a ruler gets their power directly from God.
1648
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Ended the thirty years war. Religious freedom for Lutherans and Calvinists in the HRE. (Especially Northern Europe)
1650 - 1800
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A King or Queen that centralizes their power to have absolute or complete control over all major aspects of their country.
1651 - 1794
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Enlightenment Era - Or the Age of Reason.
Philosophers such as John Locke, Baron de Moustique, and Voltaire began to question the relationship between people and the government. Most believed in natural rights for the people which include life, liberty, and property. Enlightened Monarchs though still very powerful used Enlightenment Ideas to grant more freedoms to their people including religious tolerations.
1688 - 1697
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War in which Louis XIV fought against the Grand Alliance of all major European powers. Stalemate, balance of power in Europe stops France and Louis XiV
1701 - 1714
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War over the successor of Charles II "the sufferer"; Charles had selected Philip V Bourbon, his grand-nephew and Louis XIV's grandson to succeed him, going against a previous agreement that he would be succeeded by an Austrian; an alliance of European powers with troops led by Eugene, Prince of Savoy, and John Churchill fought against French and Spanish troops; the war ended with the Peace of Utrecht
1713
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Treaty that ended the War of Spanish Succession:
-Philip V, a Bourbon, kept the Spanish throne, but had to renounce his descendants' rights to the French throne
-Austria gets former Spanish Netherlands
-France concedes property in New World to England
-Spain gives England Gibraltar, control of the slave trade (Asiento)
1756 - 1763
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Austria vs Prussia; Austria abandoned old ally Britain for France and Russia; Prussia joined with British (WINNERS); significance: no territorial changes in Europe, Britain gained complete control over the overseas colonies of France (called The French and Indian War in North America); Russia and Prussia emerged as powerful forces in European affairs
1567 - 1625
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Absolute Leader - James I believed dearly in the Divine Right of Kings, and thought others should accept his laws and policies without question
When Parliament refused to pay him a overly-large share of taxes, he acted as an absolutist by disbanding the parliament
1625 - 1649
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Son of James I. King of England during the English Civil War. Parliament and Charles I began to dispute over their role, Charles I, wanting
to keep power himself, attempted to disband Parliament and arrest outspoken members This was a critical error by Charles I, as most of the people he arrested were gentry, AND most of the gentry also happened to be Puritan. The Puritans took this as an attack not only on their political power as the gentry, but also as an attack on their religious beliefs. As a result, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell,
a civil war broke out between the gentry and the king. Unfortunately the economic and military power of the new gentry class, led mostly by Puritans, was too much for Charles to handle, and he was defeated & executed.
1642 - 1649
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James I, as many of the English kings after him, constantly fought with Parliament for more power. It was no secret that he strongly supported absolute monarchy, especially the belief that his divine right permitted him to ignore Parliament in order to get things done. In then end, this kind of infighting between the royal houses and Parliament led to a civil war (1642-1651), the result of which nearly cut off all political power from the English crown.
1653 - 1658
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While Oliver Cromwell (Leader of the Gentry) was successful in leading the gentry to victory, he was in fact a worse tyrant than any previous English king. Among his tyrannical actions: banned all nobles from Parliament, abolished the monarchy and used military force to rule and make new, unfair laws until his death in 1658
1658 - 1659
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Oliver Cromwell's younger brother, who inherited the title of Protectorate, couldn't do it right, out of power in 1659.
Had no support from the people.
1660 - 1685
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While Charles I’s son. many of the changes brought to Parliament remained. Parliament was now a permanent part of the government, and also was now required to approve all new taxes and funding for the king
Additionally, this was the first step in long political struggle between the gentry and the king.
1678 - 1834
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Opposed to whigs. party was opposed to parliamentary reforms. politcal party in britain that supported traditional political and social institutions against the forces of reform (nobles/gentry).
1685 - 1688
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Charles I son named "James Duke of York" Catholic leader of England who tried disbanding parliament and wanted to be an absolute Monarch. Was distrusted by his people because of his ties to Catholicism. He was overthrown by his son-in-law William of Orange during the "bloodless" Glorious Revolution.
1688 - 1689
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A reference to the political events of 1688-1689, when James II abdicated his throne and was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband, Prince William of Orange.
1689
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Drawn up by Parliament and presented to King William II and Queen Mary, it listed certain rights of the British people. It also limited the king's powers in taxing and prohibited the maintenance of a standing army in peacetime.
It limited the power of the monarchy & guaranteed civil liberties to the English privileged class. Also prohibited the Roman Catholics from occupying the English throne.
1689 - 1702
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Rule by William of Orange & Mary.
King and Queen of England in 1688. With them, King James' Catholic reign ended after the Glorious Revolution and recognized the supremacy of the English Parliament.
1702 - 1714
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Daughter of James II.
Anne became queen upon William’s death in March 1702. From the first she was motivated largely by an intense devotion to the Anglican church. She detested Roman Catholics and Dissenters and sympathized with High Church Tories
1714 - 1727
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George I reign marked the end of the powers of the monarchy and the introduction of a cabinet system which is how England is ruled today.
Cabinet System: political system where heads of governmental administrative departments serve as a group to advise the head of state (Prime Minister). All these ministers are drawn from the majority party in the legislature (in Britain the House of Commons) and are responsible to it.
1727 - 1760
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Significance: George II rule marked a peaceful time in England. However, Parliament constantly fought with George II and forced his mentor to resign and install their own choice of Prime Minister.
1760 - 1820
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King of England during the American Revolution; wished to keep the Americans as a loyal colony; instituted many taxes on the colonists to boost revenue for England;.
1834
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In Britain, they were closely linked with political liberalism. The party was attached to constitutional monarchy and the rights of Parliament, for electoral reform.
1610 - 1643
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Monarch who limited power of the Nobility to increase his power.
1624 - 1642
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Cardinal de Richelieu was often known by the title of the king's "Chief Minister" or "First Minister". He sought to consolidate royal power and crush domestic factions. By restraining the power of the nobility, he transformed France into a strong, centralized state.
1643 - 1715
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Absolute Monarch of France - Revoked the Edict of Nantes and took power over the military, politics, law making, religion, and culture.
Built the Palace of Versailles - Forced Nobels there to keep an eye on them. Spent most of his reign on wars that ended up stalemates and spent way too much of the countries money.
1648 - 1653
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Revolt of French Nobility against the Monarch limiting their power. It failed. Monarch increased their power after the failed rebellion.
1661 - 1683
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Financial Administrator to King Louis XIV that helped him increase his power and revenue in France.
Collected more money from Nobles by keeping better track of the numbers, kept France from going completely bankrupt during Louis XiV's wars.
1682
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Luxury Palace built by King Louis XIV where he forced the nobles to move to that way he could monitor their actions closely.
1715 - 1774
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Louis XV was king of France from 1715 to 1774. He was nicknamed 'the Well-Beloved', but his failures contributed to the crisis that brought on the French Revolution.
1774 - 1793
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King of France during the French Revolution.
Arrested, tried for treason, and beheaded.
1789 - 1799
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Causes:
Enlightenment Ideas of "consent of governed" & Life, liberty, and property.
Bad harvests lead to famine in the country.
3rd Estate were the poorest but paid all of the taxes.
King Louis XVI spent too much money.
3rd Estate had no political power.
Key Events:
Estates General - Meeting
Tennis Court Oath
National Assembly
Storming of the Bastille
Declaration of the Man and of the Citizen - New Constitution
Women's Bread March
Beheading of King & Queen
Committee of Public Safety
Reign of Terror - Lead by Jacobins and Robespierre
Robespierre Beheaded
Napoleon Takes Power - becomes Emperor
Effects:
King Louis is beheaded.
New constitution gives the people more rights.
Napoleon Takes power -Constitutional Monarch
Decline of Church Power
Fair Taxes
Increased Education
1799 - 1815
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Napoleon (inspired nationalism in France) ended up becoming a military dictator of France and used his army and great military mind to conquer land in Europe for France. The Code Napoléon: When Napoleon became the leader of France, one of his top priorities was to reorganize the entire legal structure. By the time he was done, France had a unified, progressive legal system, which Napoleon then gave to other parts of his empire. Today, the Code Napoléon is the basis of law in France and a number of other countries, as well as in the state of Louisiana!
Economic reforms: The terrible French economy was one of the key factors leading to the French Revolution. When Napoleon came to power, he turned it around in only a year. Fair taxes, increased trade, the development of French luxury industries, a new commercial code, an improved infrastructure, and a central bank to control monetary policy were keys to his success.
Religious freedom: The Catholic Church had dominated French society, but the French Revolution tossed it out on its ear. Napoleon reached an agreement with the Pope allowing the Church a major role in French society while providing religious freedom for all others. He also abolished slavery and freed the serfs, and today he is seen as a progressive force in European history.
Freedom for the Jews: The previous item might seem to encompass this accomplishment, but the awful discrimination against Jews makes them a special case. In various parts of Europe, they had been forced to wear arm bands, kept from certain professions, made to live in ghettos, and prevented from attending their synagogues. Napoleon put an end to all of those restrictions, made Jews full citizens of France, and even wrote a proclamation that established the idea of a Jewish homeland in Israel.
Education reforms: To create a middle-class cadre of leaders, Napoleon reorganized France’s education system. He restarted the primary schools, created a new elite secondary system of schools (called lycées), and established many other schools for the general populace. He promoted education for girls and greatly improved teacher training. Literacy levels in France soared under Napoleon’s reforms.
European unity: Napoleon’s empire, accompanied by his legal and other reforms, helped provide the basis for what is today the European Union. He worked hard to create a unified Italy, Poland, and Germany. Napoleon was also responsible for sweeping away many of the old regimes and promoting the ideals of equality and European solidarity. Sure, the old regimes still had some life in them when Napoleon left the scene, but things were never really the same. For that reason, Napoleon is often considered the father of modern Europe.
1682 - 1725
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Westernized / Modernized Russia
Similar policies to King Louis XIV of France.
• Made Russia a military and naval power using European technology
• Defeated the Swedes at Poltava in 1709 and took their Baltic territories
• Enforced economic, educational, administrative, military, and social reform
• Focused on the westernization of Russian culture
1725 - 1727
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1727 - 1730
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1730 - 1740
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1740 - 1741
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1741 - 1762
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1762 - 1796
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Enlightened Despot:one of the 18th century European monarchs who was inspired by Enlightenment ideas to rule justly and respect the rights of subjects. ex: Catherine the Great, Fredrick the Great, Maria Theresa
She enhanced education in Russia, and started state school for women
She patronized Enlightenment art and writers
She began to remove the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Russian state (sold lands)
Non-Western Aspects
Gave nobles more freedom, and required less gov. participation
She did, however, reinforce serfdom, and made the Russian economy dependent on it
1762 - 1762
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Admired Frederick the Great; negotiated peace with Frederick; abandoned his allies+ substantial territorial gains that Russian forces made within Prussia; married Catherine the Great
1740 - 1786
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the most successful at Westernizing under the ‘enlightened monarch’ Frederick the Great. Frederick II believed that while a monarch should have complete control, he
should use that power to protect and serve his people (consent of the governed) Granted his people religious toleration.
1740 - 1780
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Under her reign Frederick The Great invaded and conquered Silesia
• Brought about ideas of reform, established royal control over taxes
• Took steps to end serfdom (eventually ended by her son Joseph II)
• Moralistic and pious
1765 - 1795
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Another enlightened monarch, Joseph II of Austria, also attempted to westernize, but focused instead on changing laws and education after his mother, Maria Theresa.
1529
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This began the downfall of the Ottoman Empire