Eurasian State Building

Question 1

What splintered the power of the Church and led to many religious wars between European states?

Answer 1

The Reformation

Question 2

What is the state?

Answer 2

Central government at the national level.

Question 3

What are the two main forms of the State?

Answer 3

Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Question 4

Magna Charta (1215)

Answer 4

Legal limitations imposed on the English monarch. Hints of a constitutional monarchy.

Question 5

Star Chamber

Answer 5

A powerful British court. Initially set up to ensure fair enforcement of laws on Nobles; however, Henry VIII used it to give himself more power.

Question 6

The Tudors and Parliament

Answer 6

Tudors = Henry VIII to Elizabeth I
Tension as monarchs pushed towards an absolute monarchy, while parliament fought to gain back control.

Question 7

King James I

Answer 7

Took over after Elizabeth I
Told parliament they were not needed as he ruled with the Divine Right of Kings. Granted monopolies and favors to friends regularly.

Question 8

King Charles I

Answer 8

Ruled without parliament and believed it should not exist. Marched into Parliament and attempted to arrest 5 MPs.

Question 9

The English Civil War (1642-1649)

Answer 9

Cavaliers (King) vs. Roundheads (Parliament) Fought to determine if England would become a constitutional monarchy or not. King Charles was executed by beheading and England abolished the monarchy

Question 10

The Commonwealth (1649)

Answer 10

Not the commonwealth we know today. The republic formed after defeat of King Charles I

Question 11

Restoration England (1660) and King Charles II

Answer 11

Commonwealth was a strict Calvinist governance. Parliament called back the monarchy and established King Charles II. England is OFFICIALLY established as a constitutional monarchy

Question 12

King Charles II

Answer 12

Clever ruler, who secretly desired an absolute monarchy, but agreed to listen to parliament. Reign was famously loose, had affairs with actresses, people eventually began to suspect he was after an absolute monarchy.

Question 13

Whigs vs Tories

Answer 13

Liberals vs. Conservatives
Progressives vs. Royalists
Not organized anything like modern political parties. Factions in parliament

Question 14

King James II

Answer 14

Not sensible, devoutly Catholic in his politics. Triggered a crisis in 1688 when he ordered all Anglican clergymen to read his decree of Religious Toleration from their pulpits.

Question 15

The Glorious Revolution

Answer 15

Bloodless revolution which overthrew King James II, who was replaced but William of Orange. Established parliament as the power to give the monarch ability to rule and guaranteed civil liberties. (still not a real democracy, i.e., no universal suffrage)

Question 16

Plutocracy

Answer 16

Government for the rich, by the rich.
Run by the aristocracy and male property owners.

Question 17

John Locke

Answer 17

Two Treatises of Government (1690)
People lived in a natural states and have an innate right to life, liberty, and property.
Government as a mediator for the collision of personal interests and for the preservation of property.

The people had the right to overthrow the government, should it fail to represent them.

Question 18

Louis XIV, the “Sun” King

Answer 18

Expertly navigated the “rise of the state” and the position of the King
Recognized the important of optics. (Versailles, choreographed walking, incredible art, etc) Famous absolutist.

Question 19

Louis XIV, Bishop Bossuet, and Absolutism

Answer 19

Louis’ theory of absolutism articulated by Bishop Bossuet
Louis allegedly said “L’etat, c’est moi”
Believed the entire state was embodied in the Monarch.

Question 20

4 Factors of French Absolutism

Answer 20

1. Royal Authority is Sacred - Monarch accountable only to God
2. Royal Authority is Paternal - King/Subject relationship = Father/son relationship
3. It is Absolute - No limitations on monarch’s power
4. Subject to Reason - Should mental state of a monarch deteriorate, they can be removed.

Question 21

Versailles

Answer 21

Royal palace of France built by Louis XIV, purposely built outside of Paris. (King does not live among the people) Nobles lived at Versailles for a portion of the year to allow Louis to keep an eye on them. Palace was built to impress (unmatched grandeur)

Question 22

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Answer 22

France’s “finance minister” under Louis XIV. Helped finance construction of Versailles and armies of France. Spent a lot of time focusing on balancing the books. After his death, Louis reigned for 30 more years and France’s economic situation rapidly deteriorated.

Question 23

Peter the Great of Russia (1689-1725

Answer 23

Absolute monarch of Russia. Famous for building and expanding the Navy and moving the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Desired to reshape Russia through westernization but neglected to address the serfs.

Question 24

Westernization

Answer 24

Process of ‘becoming like the west’. Peter wanted to imitate Western Monarchies, however he used Autocracy.

Question 25

Ottoman Turkey

Answer 25

Nomadic people, originating in eastern Asia. Settled in modern-day Turkey, not conquered by Mongols. Replaced Baghdad as center of power in the middle-east.

Question 26

Sultan Osman I (1299-1326)

Answer 26

Turks in Anatolia, renamed Ottoman Turks after this Sultan
Particularly effective at conquering territory from Byzantine Empire

Question 27

Sultan Mehmet II (1451-1481)

Answer 27

Conquered the Byzantine Empire by executing a great siege of Constantinople. It was renamed Istanbul and was repopulated/rebuilt to ensure continued success.

Question 28

Topkapi Palace (“Palace of the Sun Gate”)

Answer 28

Enormous palace of the Ottoman Empire. Sultans often withdrew into the palace and became a remote, almost superhuman figure. The Sultan took on the role of caretaker of the Islamic faith.

Question 29

The Janissaries

Answer 29

Elite soldiers, directly loyal to Sultan, males (8-18) conscripted from Christian lands of the empire and indoctrinated. Key to empire’s success.