History Chapter Renaissance and Exploration

Originally about religion, they evolved into political power struggles. The War of the Three Henrys highlights this shift, fueled by political alliances rather than faith.

Catherine de Medici, a powerful mother and regent, demonstrates how women could influence politics in a male-dominated era, even if indirectly.

Conflicts like those in France and the Holy Roman Empire impacted neighboring regions such as Spain and England. This is seen in the Spanish Armada's defeat and Protestantism's rise in England.

The Thirty Years' War's end through the Peace of Westphalia established the principles of state sovereignty and religious tolerance, moving away from military solutions and pioneering modern nation-states.

The Wars of Religion, especially the Thirty Years' War, had a devastating human cost, including loss of life and widespread destruction, emphasizing the tragic consequences of religious violence.

The end of the Thirty Years' War marked the decline of a unified Christianity. It brought a fragmented religious landscape to Europe.

The process of expanding literacy rates by increasing access to printed materials, leading to a wider range of knowledge and genres available.

Ancient Greek and Roman knowledge was rediscovered and disseminated through the printing press, reviving classical ideas and influencing the Renaissance.

Printing revolutionized information sharing, leading to the development of mass media like newspapers, and ultimately paving the way for the digital age.

A shift in power from feudal lords to centralized monarchs, leading to increased stability and control.

Monarchs employed bureaucracy for tasks like tax collecting and law enforcement, increasing efficiency and control of their domain.

Monarchs used religious authority to solidify their political legitimacy, demonstrating the close relationship between religion and power.

Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church was driven by personal ambitions (getting a male heir) and political desires (greater control over religious matters).

The Peace of Augsburg acknowledged religious differences and allowed German rulers to choose the religion of their territory, highlighting the use of religious authority to legitimate political power.

The spread of new diseases, like smallpox, from Europe to the Americas, significantly weakened Indigenous populations, making it easier for Europeans to conquer new territories.

The exchange of goods, ideas, and people between the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) and the New World (Americas) after Columbus's voyages.

Technological advancements in shipbuilding, like the caravel, allowed European explorers to sail further and faster, empowering them to discover new lands and trade routes.

The introduction of high-yield crops like corn and potatoes from the Americas to Europe led to improved food security and population growth.

The invention of the printing press made maps more accessible, allowing more people to explore and discover new lands.

European nations competed fiercely to acquire territories and resources, leading to rivalries and conflicts that shaped global power dynamics.

Navigational tools, like the compass and astrolabe, enabled sailors to determine their location more accurately, leading to longer and more ambitious voyages.

Control over sea routes became crucial for maintaining and expanding influence during this period, leading to new military and economic strategies.

The economic system where a nation's wealth is measured by its gold and silver reserves, leading to a focus on exporting more than importing to increase these reserves. This system was a key driver of European colonialism in the Americas during the 1500s and 1600s.

The economic system based on private ownership of resources and free markets, where individuals or companies compete for profits. This system emerged in Europe, partly due to the wealth generated from the New World, which fueled trade and investment.

A system of labor used in Spanish colonial America where Indigenous people were assigned to certain landowners for forced labor in exchange for protection and Christian conversion. This system contributed to the exploitation and decline of Indigenous populations.

The forced migration of millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations in the Americas, fueled by the demand for labor to produce cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton. This system was a key part of European colonialism and had devastating consequences for African societies.

The shift in economic power from the Mediterranean Sea, where trade was historically centered, to the Atlantic Ocean, driven by the new trade routes established during the Colombian Exchange. This shift led to the rise of new maritime powers like Britain, France, and the Netherlands.

The change in social structures in Europe from a feudal system with fixed hierarchies based on hereditary land ownership to a more fluid society where individuals could gain wealth through trade and commerce. This transition was influenced by the wealth and opportunities created by colonialism.

The impact of the Columbian Exchange on health and nutrition in both Europe and the Americas. New foods, such as potatoes and corn, were introduced, improving diets and contributing to population growth. However, diseases like smallpox and measles were also introduced, leading to significant population decline in the Americas.

The voting structure where a minority (clergy and nobility) held more power than the majority (Third Estate) in the Estates General, leading to unrest and the French Revolution.

People's basic needs, such as food, play a major role in driving political change. When survival is at stake, citizens are more likely to demand change, even revolution.

Women's participation in the French Revolution, like the October March, showed their active role in demanding change, despite lacking formal rights.

Revolutions can go from liberal ideals to radical measures. The Reign of Terror is a cautionary tale of how the pursuit of justice can turn into tyranny, threatening the very principles of the revolution.

Fear can be a tool to control the population. The Reign of Terror shows how paranoia and repression can be used to maintain control, ultimately undermining the revolution's goals.

Power dynamics within a society follow cyclical patterns, as seen in the French Revolution, where different groups rise and fall.

The French Revolution serves as a historical example of how inadequate political representation and socioeconomic inequality can lead to widespread unrest and revolution.

Revolutions can become corrupted from within. The quest for justice can be hijacked by those seeking power, ultimately undermining the revolution's original values.

The transition from decentralized feudal systems to centralized monarchical rule, where kings held supreme power.

The need for large standing armies required governments to increase taxes to fund military expenses and develop complex bureaucratic systems to manage these expenditures.

The expansion of global trade led to the emergence of a wealthy merchant class who sought stability and protection from absolute monarchs. This alliance fostered economic growth and gave the merchants a strong influence on royal policies.

Absolutist monarchs expanded their armies and created large bureaucracies to effectively manage their realms. This increased the military strength and centralized power by replacing local authorities with loyal bureaucrats.

Louis XIV's extravagant court at Versailles served as a tool to control the nobility. By forcing them to reside at court and engage in lavish ceremonies, the king occupied them and prevented them from challenging his authority.

Absolutist monarchs like Louis XIV sought to impose religious uniformity to eliminate potential sources of dissent and strengthen their power. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes, for example, consolidated Catholicism and suppressed Protestant influences.

The rise of absolutism changed the relationship between the state and its citizens. Increased taxation and centralization led to a diminished power of the nobility and a rise in bureaucratic structures.

The rise of a prosperous merchant class had a profound impact on absolutism. They provided economic support to monarchs, but also gained influence and power in exchange for stability.