Analyzing Historical Sources: Absolutism

Which of the following is a primary source about the Scientific Revolution?

• A) A book written today about Isaac Newton
• B) A letter written by Galileo in 1610
• C) A recent movie about the Scientific Revolution
• D) A history website explaining the heliocentric model

How might a secondary source about the Black Plague show bias?

• A) The author only includes facts and no opinions or interpretations.
• B) The source could provide a balanced view of both positive and negative impacts.
• C) Secondary sources are usually unbiased because they summarize events and don’t include opinions.
• D) The author might emphasize the negative effects of the Black Plague, ignoring any positive outcomes.

Why should you compare John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government with a book about how the English Parliament limited the king’s power?

• A) To get more than one perspective and understand the full story.
• B) To make sure you only believe Locke’s viewpoint as the correct one.
• C) To focus on just one primary source so not to be distracted by other ideas.
• D) To avoid learning about Parliament’s role.

King James I stated, "Kings are justly called gods... they have power... and are accountable to none but God only." How does this primary source show a potential downside of relying only on primary sources when studying Absolutism?

• A) It shows an unbiased view of monarchy during Absolutism.
• B) It reflects the opinions of all European thinkers of the time.
• C) It presents only King James I’s beliefs, not the broader views of society.
• D) Primary sources like this are always reliable because they come from historical figures.

In what way did the actions of both King James I of England and King Louis XIV of France contribute to people questioning the divine right of kings?

• A) Both monarchs successfully united their nations under a common religion, which reduced complaints and supported the idea of divine right.
• B) Both monarchs made significant efforts to share power with other elected officers like Parliament, strengthing the idea of divine right.
• C) Both monarchs centralized power, disregarding parliament and leading to increased questioning of their divine right to rule.
• D) Both monarchs implemented policies that improved the lives of their subjects, reinforcing the belief in their divine right to rule.

How does the quote from Giovanni Boccaccio's "The Decameron" — "It was the common practice… to shun and abhor all sick persons… thus laying aside all human feeling" — show the loss of trust in the Church and contribute to Enlightenment ideas?

• A) The quote shows that the Church encouraged people to shun the sick, which strengthened trust in the Church’s authority.
• B) The quote explains that people fully followed the Church’s advice, which led to stronger faith in traditional beliefs and practices.
• C) The quote reflects how people’s trust in the Church increased because the Church successfully kept everyone united during the plague.
• D) The quote shows how people lost faith in the Church’s guidance by rejecting its teachings on compassion, leading them to seek new ideas.

Passage: Galileo Galilei wrote, "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use," arguing that God gave humans the ability to think critically and explore the natural world. Question: Based on the passage above, how does Galileo’s view reflect the values of the Scientific Revolution?

• A) Galileo argues that reason and intellect are unnecessary for understanding the world.
• B) Galileo states that faith should always replace reason and observation in scientific inquiry.
• C) Galileo suggests that religious teachings alone are sufficient for understanding the universe.
• D) Galileo believes that God gave humans reason and intellect to understand the natural world.

Which action by King James I of England contributed to growing unrest and questioning of the divine right of kings among his subjects?

• A) He established a more inclusive Parliament that shared power with the people.
• B) He did away with Parliament and ruled without its consent, leading to tensions over his claim to divine right.

• C) He granted more rights and freedoms to his subjects, reducing the power of the monarchy.
• D) He reduced taxes on the nobility, causing them to support his absolute rule without question.

Why was the heliocentric theory significant beyond just its scientific value?

• A) It supported the Church's teachings and strengthened traditional beliefs that the Earth was the center of God's creation.
• B) It challenged the idea that Earth was the center of the universe, led to questioning traditional authority.
• C) It led to the immediate creation of modern space travel, in which Leonardo Dvinchi designed the first space ship.
• D) It was quickly accepted by all European governments without resistance and there was no revolutioon to be held.

How did the Scientific Revolution encourage people to use reason instead of relying on superstition?

• • A) By promoting religious teachings as the only source of knowledge

• B) By using observation and experiments to understand the natural world

• • C) By telling people to accept everything they hear without question

• • D) By relying on ancient myths to explain natural events