World History Final

• Ism


  A distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, usually a political, cultural, or artistic movement. Also, can be religious in nature.
• Colonialism

  • When one country acquires political control over another country, occupying it with settlers (colonies) and exploiting it for economic gain. Examples: Spanish, Portuguese, British, French.
• Mercantilism


  • A theory that a country's power depended upon its wealth. Two ways: obtain as much gold and silver as possible (Spanish Conquistadores in Mesoamerica and South America), and create a favorable balance of trade in which the country sells more goods than it buys.
• Capitalism


  • An economic system, based on private ownership (of land, business, resources, labor) for profit. Also known as a Free Market Economy. Based upon the idea that free trade creates wealth. Prices are dictated by the laws of supply and demand. Examples: Joint-Stock Companies like the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company.
• Absolutism


  • The belief that one ruler should hold ALL power within the boundaries of a state (their country). Divine Right - The belief that god created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God's representative on earth. Examples: Charles V of the H.R.E (Carlos I of Spain), Philip II of Spain, King Louis XIII (13th) and King Louis XIV (14th) of France.
• Constitutionalism/ Constitutional Monarchy - England


  • The power of the Monarch was limited by the rule of law. The delicate balance between the power of government and the rights/liberties of individuals. Magna Carta (1215) - Basic legal rights for all people. No taxation without representation. Trial by jury and due process. Parliament - Legislative body established in 1295. Acted as another "check" to the power of the Monarch. Willing to pay taxes as long as Parliament had a say in how those taxes were used. Taxes were more equitable in England, all people paid an equal share. House of Lords - Nobles and bishops (clergy). House of Commons - Gentry - Wealthy landowners.
• Classical Liberalism


  • Belief in the liberty of the individual to make their own choices. Equality of individuals and equality before the law. Natural Rights - Life, liberty, and Property (pursuit of happiness). John Lock (Later Thomas Jefferson). "General Will" and the French Revolution (3rd Estate possessing 98% of the population in France but only 1 of 3 votes in The Estates General). Jean Jacques Rousseau. Laissez Faire Capitalism - "hands off". Adam Smith. Religious Tolerance. Voltaire.
• Conservatism


  • Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology, which seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary about the culture and civilization in which it appears.
• Industrialism


  • Economic/social system built on manufacturing industries. Machines began to replace both human and animal power in farming, production, and manufacturing. Europe gradually transitioned from an agricultural to a modern industrial and commercial society (the US quickly followed). Many parts of the world are in the process of industrializing right now.
• Social Darwinism


  • Charles Darwin - Theory of Evolution, origins of species (1859). Natural Selection - Scarcity of resources. Those who survive are the fittest or best adapted to the environment. Used by Europeans to justify poor treatment of lower classes/workers and imperialism and colonization in Africa and Asia.
• Socialism


  • Economic/political theory of social organization where industry and trade are owned and regulated by the community (government) as a whole. Peaceful takeover of government. Individual choice. Economic equality.
• Communism


  • A political theory, advocating for class war to create a classless society, where all capital (land, labor, business) is owned by the government. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. All in the working class. Violent overthrow.
• Nationalism


  • Extreme loyalty to and the identification with one's nation and national interests, usually to the detriment of other nations. Often includes belief their nation is better than others. Unified by culture, language, ethnicity, religion, etc. Nationalism became a dominant force in the western world after 1850 (Europe and USA).
• Imperialism


  • A policy of one country extending its power and influence over others through diplomacy or military force.
• Militarism


  • A policy of glorifying military power. Keeping standing armies prepared to fight and competing in arms races to have the best weapons, to deter the "enemy".
• Totalitarianism


  • A system of government in which authority is centralized and a dictator has "total" control over the government and the lives of citizens. Secret Police. No freedom of speech, freedom of the press, proper education (put people against enemies).
• Fascism


  • Ultra-conservative form of government in which a dictator has total political control over the people. Private ownership is allowed as long as people are loyal to the nation/dictator.
• Charles V


  European monarch that inherited Spain's American colonies, part of Italy, and the Netherlands
• What happened to Charles V's empire when he retired

  He divided his empire
• Philip II


  Shy, serious, very religious
• The king of Portugal died without an heir. Philip was the king's nephew and he seized the kingdom of Portugal.
• Philip had a ginormous empire that had circled the entire globe.
• How did Philip attempt to be the "defender of Catholicism"

  1. He was called on by the pope to defeat the rising Ottoman empire

  2. In 1588 he launched his Spanish Armada to Protestant England in an attempt to punish them
• Philip's attempts to be the "defender of Catholicism" were not successful
• What Philip wanted his palace to demonstrate

  That his monarchy was strong and wealthy, as well as it reflected Philip's faith
• Inflation

  The decline in value of money and rising prices
• Causes of inflation in Spain

  • Spain's population had been growing and people were demanding more food
  • Spain expelled the Jews and Muslims around 1500, losing many valuable artisans and business people
  • Spanish nobles did not pay taxes
• Other causes of Spain's economic decline

  • Spain had no middle class development
  • Taxes fell on the poor
• Spain's wealth did not benefit from the gold and silver brought in from America because of the great inflation, so the money did not last long
• Skepticism


  Nothing can ever be known for sure
• Why the Dutch revolted against Spanish rule

  The Dutch were tired of the taxation from Spain and Spain tried to crush Protestantism in the Netherlands, which only made the Dutch more angry and more of them revolt
• Montaigne


  Developed a new form of literature called the essay to express ideas and opinions
• The Dutch revolt against Spanish rule was successful
• How the government of the United Provinces of the Netherlands was different from other European states

  They practiced religious toleration and it was a republic, not a kingdom
• Montaigne's beliefs about truth


  • All his beliefs replaced old ones that were accepted as truth
  • His ideas may be replaced in the future
  • Never have absolute knowledge
• The Dutch had the largest fleet of ships, which helped them to dominate the East India Company
• Descartes's ideas


  • One can never be certain of anything (Skepticism)
  • Wrote something that inspired the scientific method
• The Dutch were different from the Spanish because they believed in different things (Dutch=Protestant, Spanish=Catholic) and their government was religiously tolerant and a republic instead of a kingdom
• Montaigne and Descartes believed that nothing can ever be known for sure
• Absolute monarch


  A king or queen who is the only one that has power over their country or state