Age of Absolutism & Enlightenment Study Aid

How were absolute monarchs able to take and maintain power?

• Through democratic elections

• By sharing power with the nobility

• By claiming divine right

• Through military conquest

List the major characteristics of Phillip Il's rule in Spain.

• Religious tolerance and cultural diversity

• Economic prosperity and trade expansion

• Centralized power and Catholic orthodoxy

• Constitutional monarchy and limited government

What weakened the Spanish Empire & what led to its collapse?

• Economic decline and military defeats

• Political corruption and social unrest

• Religious conflicts and cultural divisions

• Foreign invasions and natural disasters

What factors led to the prosperity in the Netherlands?

• Strong monarchy and centralized power

• Religious unity and cultural homogeneity

• Economic innovation and trade expansion

• Military conquest and territorial expansion

Describe the theory of the divine right of kings.

• The belief that kings are chosen by the people

• The idea that kings derive their power from God

• The notion that kings should be elected by nobles

• The concept that kings should be accountable to the church

What did the Edict of Nantes do and what is the background of the declaration?

• It granted religious freedom to Protestants in France

• It established a state church and suppressed other religions

• It abolished feudalism and redistributed land to peasants

• It centralized power in the hands of the French monarchy

Why and how did Cardinal Richelieu gain power within France and for France.

• He gained power through military conquest and expansion

• He gained power by suppressing religious dissent and strengthening the monarchy

• He gained power through diplomatic negotiations and alliances

• He gained power by promoting economic growth and trade

What is skepticism?

• The belief in the existence of a higher power

• The rejection of all religious beliefs

• The questioning of knowledge and certainty

• The acceptance of all philosophical theories

Explain the theories and list the works of Montaigne and Descartes.

• Montaigne - Discourse on Method; Descartes - Essays

• Montaigne - Meditations on First Philosophy; Descartes - The Essays

• Montaigne - The Essays; Descartes - Discourse on Method

• Montaigne - The Prince; Descartes - Meditations on First Philosophy

Describe the characteristics and actions that made Louis XIV an absolute monarch.

• He promoted religious tolerance and cultural diversity

• He shared power with the nobility and implemented constitutional reforms

• He centralized power, controlled the nobility, and built the Palace of Versailles

• He advocated for democratic principles and established a parliamentary system