Chapter 16 – The Age of Absolutism – Flashcards
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Why did Charles V divide the Hapsburg Empire?
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It was too difficult for one person to rule effectively
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What were Philip II's motivations for waging war?
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advancing Catholicism and increasing Spain's power
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What was the Siglo de Oro?
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It was a golden century of Spanish arts and literature, from 1550 to 1650.
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How did Philip II extend Spain's power and help establish a golden age?
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Philip II asserted absolute power, waged war, and supported the arts, all to extend Spain's power and prestige.
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What rights did the Edict of Nantes extend to Huguenots?
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religious toleration and other rights
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Why did Louis XIV choose the sun as his symbol?
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It symbolized his role as the all-powerful center of the nation.
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How did Louis XIV secure support from the nobility?
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He kept them tied to the court; he exempted them from paying taxes.
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How did Louis' actions weaken France's economy?
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Waging war drained his treasury; expelling Huguenots removed some of his most productive subjects.
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How did France become the leading power of Europe under the absolute rule of Louis XIV?
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Louis XIV strengthened royal power, the army, the economy, and the arts to make France the leading power of Europe.
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Why did Henry VIII work with Parliament?
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He needed Parliament's approval to levy new taxes and to obtain a divorce.
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What was the Petition of Right?
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a legal document that prohibited the king from raising taxes without Parliament's consent or imprisoning people who had not violated laws
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What was the result of the English Civil War?
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Parliament won and had Charles I executed.
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What was the Commonwealth?
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The Commonwealth was the republic of England under Cromwell.
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What was the Glorious Revolution?
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the bloodless overthrow of James II and the installation of William and Mary as monarchs
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What three political institutions contributed to the evolution of Britain's constitutional government?
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political parties, the cabinet, and the office of prime minister
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How did British society remain divided?
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Poor people and women could not vote or participate in government; society was separated into distinct classes.
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How did the British Parliament assert its rights against royal claims to absolute power in the 1600s?
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by attempting to share power with monarchs, by waging the Civil War and creating the Commonwealth, and by establishing a Bill of Rights
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What were some effects of the Peace of Westphalia?
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France gained land, the Hapsburgs lost land, the Netherlands and Swiss Federation gained independence, and the German lands were even more divided.
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What caused the War of the Austrian Succession?
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Maria Theresa's succession to the throne and Frederick II's invasion of Silesia.
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How did Frederick William increase his power?
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He controlled the Junkers, created an efficient bureaucracy, and established a strong army.
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What were the two main rivalries after 1750?
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England and France; Austria and Prussia
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How did the two great empires of Austria and Prussia emerge from the Thirty Years' War and subsequent events?
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After war decimated the Holy Roman Empire, strong rulers Maria Theresa, Frederick William, and Frederick II consolidated power and territory to build their empires.
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What rewards and punishments did Peter use to solidify his control over the nobles?
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Rewards: laws that favored the nobles, for example by strengthening serfdom. Punishments: stipulating that they change their customs; requiring them to serve the state.
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What impact did Peter's defeat of Sweden have on Russia's expansion?
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It gained Russia territory along the Baltic Sea, including the land for his new capital, St. Petersburg.
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How were Catherine's goals similar to those of Peter?
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They both wanted to increase the power of the tsar, expand Russia's borders, and modernize.
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How did Peter the Great and Catherine the Great strengthen Russia and expand its territory?
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Using autocratic methods, they westernized and modernized Russia, centralized royal power, improved the army, and expanded its territory through war, treaties, and exploration.
