Key Terms: The Age of Kings, 1600-1789

Question 1

Absolutism

Answer 1

System of government where the ruler claims sole and incontestable power. These monarchs were not limited by constitutional restraints.

Question 2

Divine Right of Kings

Answer 2

Rulers receive authority from God, and are answerable only to god.

Question 3

Intendants

Answer 3

French royal officials who supervised provincial governments in the name of the king. PLayed a key role in establishing French absolutism.

Question 4

Fronde

Answer 4

Series of rebellions against royal authority in France between 1649 and 1652. Played a key role in Louis XIV’s decision to leave Paris and build the Versailles Palace.

Question 5

Robot

Answer 5

System of forced labor used in eastern Europe. Peasants usually owed three or four days a week of forced labor. Abolished in 1848.

Question 6

Junkers

Answer 6

Prussia’s landowning nobility. Supported the monarchy and served in the army in exchange for absolute power over serfs.

Question 7

Scientific Method

Answer 7

Use of inductive logic and controlled experiments to discover patterns in nature. These patterns or laws can be described with mathematical formulas.

Question 8

Philosophes

Answer 8

18th century writers who stressed reason and advocated freedom of expression, religious toleration, and a reformed legal system.

Question 9

Deism

Answer 9

Belief that God created the universe but allowed it to operate through the laws of nature. Believers thought that natural laws could be discovered through human reason.

Question 10

General Will

Answer 10

Concept in political philosophy referring to the desire or interest of the people. Identical to the rule of law.

Question 11

Enlightened Despotism

Answer 11

System of government supported by philosophes where an absolute rulers uses his/her power for the good of the people. Supported religious tolerance, increased economic productivity, administrative reform, and scientific academies.

Question 12

Enclosure Movement

Answer 12

Process where British landlords fenced in common lands to increase production of cash crops. Led to an increase in farm size held by large landowners.

Question 13

Agricultural Revolution

Answer 13

Innovations in farm production beginning in the 18th century Holland then England. Advances replaced open-field agriculture system with more scientific and mechanized system of agriculture.

Question 14

Physiocrats

Answer 14

Group of 18th century French economists led by Francois Quesnay. Criticized mercantilist regulations and called for free trade.

Question 15

Invisible Hand

Answer 15

Phrase coined by Adam Smith to refer to the self-regulating nature of a free marketplace.