World History Absolutism Test

Questions and Answers

What is absolutism?

A form of government with limited powers

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (correct)

A democracy with multiple parties

An anarchy without a central government

What is an absolute monarch?

A king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society.

What does the divine right refer to?

The idea that monarchs are God's representatives on earth.

What is a czar?

A Russian emperor. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the boyars?

Landowning nobles of Russia. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Phillip II?

King of Spain known for his control of the Spanish and Portuguese Empire. Signup and view all the answers

What was Louis XIV known for?

Increasing taxes to enhance France's wealth and expanding its boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Ivan the Terrible?

A Russian ruler who established a code of laws and eliminated perceived traitors. Signup and view all the answers

What did Peter the Great do?

Westernized Russia and built St. Petersburg. Signup and view all the answers

Who was James II?

An English king who was known for his Catholic appointments and was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution. Signup and view all the answers

What was the War of Spanish Succession?

A conflict lasting from 1701-1713 to prevent the Bourbon family from uniting Spain and France. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Seven Years' War?

A conflict lasting from 1756-1763 involving Britain and Prussia against Austria, France, and Russia. Signup and view all the answers

What was the English Civil War?

A conflict from 1642-1649 between Puritan supporters of Parliament and supporters of the monarchy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Glorious Revolution?

The bloodless overthrow of King James II by William and Mary. Signup and view all the answers

What is a constitutional monarchy?

A monarchy in which the ruler's power is limited by law. Signup and view all the answers

What is a parliament?

A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cabinet?

A group of advisers or ministers chosen by the head of a country. Signup and view all the answers

What is Habeas Corpus?

A document requiring that a prisoner be brought before a court. Signup and view all the answers

What does the English Bill of Rights stipulate?

No suspending of Parliament's laws; no taxation without representation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Magna Carta?

A document guaranteeing basic political rights in England. Signup and view all the answers

What is the geocentric theory?

The theory that the sun revolves around the Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the heliocentric theory?

The theory that the Earth revolves around the sun. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Copernicus?

An astronomer who published the heliocentric theory. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kepler discover?

That Earth revolves in ellipses, not circles. Signup and view all the answers

What did Galileo contribute to science?

He discovered the law of the pendulum and invented the telescope. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Descartes?

A philosopher who developed the scientific method. Signup and view all the answers

What did Newton discover?

The law of gravity. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Boyle?

A scientist who discovered the mathematical relationship between pressure and volume of gas. Signup and view all the answers

Who are philosophers?

'Lovers of wisdom', thinkers who use logic and reason. Signup and view all the answers

What does the social contract entail?

The unwritten agreement where a person gives up some rights for government protection. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Hobbes?

A philosopher who believed humans are inherently selfish. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Terms and Definitions

Absolutism: A government system where the ruler has no legal restrictions, acting as an absolute dictator.
Absolute Monarch: A sovereign, such as a king or queen, with unlimited power aiming to control all societal aspects.
Divine Right: The belief that monarchs are God's representatives on Earth, accountable only to God.
Czar: The title for a Russian emperor.
Boyars: The landowning nobility of Russia.

Historical Figures in Absolutism

Phillip II: King of Spain, notable for his control over the Spanish and Portuguese Empires, military strength, and wealth acquired from gold and silver.
Louis XIV: French monarch known as the "Sun King", increased taxes for wealth expansion, sought to extend France’s territorial boundaries, and built the lavish Palace of Versailles.
Ivan the Terrible: Russian ruler who established a code of laws, was notorious for eliminating perceived traitors, and redistributed land based on loyalty.
Peter the Great: Tsar of Russia who westernized the nation by traveling undercover in Europe, introduced new agricultural practices, built St. Petersburg, and limited landowner power.

Important Events and Conflicts

James II: King of England whose overt Catholicism led to his ousting during the Glorious Revolution.
War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713): European conflict aimed at preventing the Bourbon dynasty from ruling both Spain and France.
Seven Years' War (1756-1763): Global conflict involving Britain and Prussia against Austria, France, and Russia, impacting several continents.
English Civil War (1642-1649): A struggle between Parliament supporters and royalists, led by Puritans against the monarchy.
Glorious Revolution: A peaceful transition of power from James II to William and Mary in England.

Governance and Political Concepts

Constitutional Monarchy: A system where the monarch's powers are legally restricted by a constitution.
Parliament: A representative body that creates laws for a nation.
Cabinet: Advisors chosen by the head of state to assist in government decision-making.
Habeas Corpus: Legal requirement to bring prisoners before a court to determine the legality of their detention.
English Bill of Rights: Legal document affirming no suspension of laws, taxation without representation, and freedom of speech in Parliament.
Magna Carta (1215): Landmark document affirming basic political rights in England, established by nobles and enacted by King John.

Theories and Scientific Discoveries

Geocentric Theory: Belief that the Earth is the center of the universe with the sun revolving around it.
Heliocentric Theory: Assertion that the Earth orbits the sun, revolutionizing understanding of the cosmos.
Copernicus: Proposed heliocentric theory, published at the end of his life in 1543.
Kepler: Discovered that planetary orbits are elliptical and formulated mathematical laws governing motion.
Galileo: Pioneer in physics and astronomy, known for his work on gravity, pendulum laws, and telescope invention.
Descartes: Developed the scientific method and contributed to analytical geometry, promoting systematic investigation.
Newton: Formulated the laws of gravity, demonstrating a mathematical foundation for physical laws.
Boyle: Established foundational principles in chemistry, particularly the relationship between gas pressure and volume.

Enlightenment Thinkers

Philosophers: Individuals who apply logic and reason to ponder life's fundamental questions, often seeking wisdom.
Social Contract: The theory that individuals willingly surrender some rights for government protection.
Hobbes: Believed in the selfish nature of humans, advocating for a strong government to maintain order and prevent chaos.

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Test your knowledge of absolutism in world history with these flashcards. Each card covers essential terms and definitions that illustrate the concept of absolute power in governance, including key figures and philosophies. Perfect for studying significant monarchs and their ruling ideologies.