European History: Key Events and Figures
French Revolution (1789-1799)
Causes:
- Neglect of the state by Louis XV & XVI.
- Irresponsible & inefficient administration.
- No true representative assembly.
- Chaotic legal system.
- Growing middle class excluded from politics but infused with the ideas of the philosophes.
- Financial bankruptcy of the treasury.
Mercantilism
Governmental regulation of all aspects of the economy, which accompanies absolutism.
Absolutism
The most prevalent form of government in the 17th century. It is best described as a stringent form of monarchical control in Europe.
Treaty of Ryswick (1697)
Settled the War of the League of Augsburg.
Galileo
Italian astronomer. His experiments laid the foundation for modern experimental science. He developed the first telescope and confirmed Copernicus’s theory.
Johannes Kepler
German astronomer. Developed the law of planetary motion.
Nicolas Copernicus
Polish astronomer & founder of modern astronomy. Developed heliocentric theory: planets revolve around the sun, replacing the geocentric theory.
War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697)
Pitted all of Europe against France. Settled by the Treaty of Ryswick. The League was: English, Spanish, Dutch & Russia vs. France.
Peter the Great (1689-1725)
Russian monarch who was able to control his nobles by requiring a lifetime of either civil or military service. Built St. Petersburg. Abolished the patriarchate. Obsessed with western everything. Hoped to modernize Russia. Brought nobility to heel.
Catherine the Great (1762-1796)
German princess brought to Russia to marry Grand Duke Peter. Staged a palace coup. Believed in westernization. Faced Pugachev’s Rebellion.
Jacobins
Liberal, became extreme. Decided on war.
Oliver Cromwell
Dictator of England during the English Civil War, given the title Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.
Charles I
James’s son. English Civil War. He raised taxes and dissolved Parliament. Parliament got Oliver Cromwell to lead their army, and Charles led his army. Oliver captured Charles and killed him. (Commonwealth Period 1649) Protectorate (1649-1660). Oliver forced people to live the Puritan lifestyle (black and white). Oliver died in 1660.
Charles II
Restored Monarchy (Restoration). Never had kids.
Glorious Revolution
The period of English history during which Mary Stuart & William of Orange were invited by Parliament to jointly assume the throne.
Capitalism
The economic system based on private ownership of property & market determination of the price of goods.
France
Absolute monarchy. Catholic. Bourbon. Most powerful country in Europe. Split into Nobility and commoners. Later start in the exploring game. Cartier and later Champlain set up claims to New France (Canada).
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Proclaimed in September 1791. Modified from constitutional monarchy to republic. First French Republic.
Third Estate
Hadn’t met in 175 years. Called by Louis to help with the financial crisis. Arrived with demands. Other two estates ignored the summons.
Tennis Court Oath
Met at a tennis court and all took an oath of honor to change how the king did things.
Waterloo
Final battle of the Napoleonic Wars.
Enlightenment
Reason is everything. Wanted freedom from superstition, intolerance, and arbitrary authority of the church. Salons transferred ideas. Head thinkers were called philosophes.
Scientific Revolution (1500-1700)
Directly succeeded the Renaissance and Reformation. Revolutionized man’s thinking and laid the foundation for the Industrial Revolution. Key figures: Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton.
Treaty of Utrecht
Concluded the War of the Spanish Succession. Treaty with European powers.
Montesquieu
Aristocrat who saw problems with Louis XV. Wrote The Spirit of the Laws, which advocated a separation of powers.
Rousseau
Greatest prophet of democratic revolution. Concerned with educational reform. Believed that man was corrupted by society. Wrote Social Contract.
Deism
Taught that God exists. Claimed that true religious and ethical teachings didn’t come from scripture or church but were acquired through the use of God-given human reason.
Napoleon
Threatened Britain in Egypt but was defeated by Lord Horatio Nelson. Discovered the Rosetta Stone, making it possible to understand hieroglyphics.
Isaac Newton
English scientist who combined math and experimentation. Developed the Newtonian system. Developed the theory of gravitation and the three laws of motion.