Ms. Simonsen\'s World History Class » Terms

TERMS: Enlightenment Ideas Spread

msimonsen — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:44:35 +0000

censorship: restricting access to ideas and information

salons: informal social gathering at which writers, artists, and philosophes, and others exchanged ideas

enlightened despot: absolute ruler who uses his or her power to bring about political or social change

Frederick the Great: Prussian king who became an enlightened despot and created reforms for a more efficient government

Catherine the Great: empress of Russia who became an enlightened despot and believed in ideas of equality and liberty

Enlightenment Terms

msimonsen — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:38:57 +0000

Enlightenment – “Age of Reason,” desire to acquire knowledge through reason

social contract – an agreement between people (who gave up their freedom) to a powerful government in order to avoid chaos

natural rights – the right of life, liberty, and property

Thomas Hobbes – believed people were naturally selfish and that the best government was an absolute monarchy to keep order

John Locke – believed people were reasonable beings and that rulers had to protect our natural rights (if not, people could overthrow gov’t)

Voltaire – believed in a “strong” monarchy who were enlightened rulers;

Rousseau – believed in a social contract where people gave up some of their freedoms for the “general will” of society – direct democracy

Montesquieu – proposed the separation of powers so that it prevented any individual or group from gaining total control of government

Democratic Developments in England TERMS

msimonsen — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:45:40 +0000

common law – reflected customs and principles over time

feudalism – central governments collapsing into smaller kingdoms

Magna Carta (1215) – English document outlining civil rights and liberties

Parliament – England’s national legislature

divine right – monarchs were chosen by God

constitutional monarchy – powers of a king restricted by written law

English Bill of Rights (1689) – formal summary of the rights and liberties of all Englishmen

Glorious Revolution (1689) – overthrow of James II and the strengthening of Parliament

Henry II – king of England (1154) who broadened system of royal justice

absolute monarch – ruler with complete authority over government and people

Oliver Cromwell – statesman who helped make England a republic and then ruled as lord protector from 1653 to 1658

habeas corpus – principle that a person cannot be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime

limited monarchy – government in which a constitutional or legislative body limit the monarch’s powers

Rome, Judaism, and Christianity Terms

msimonsen — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:57:35 +0000

republic – representatives of the people who make government decisions
senate – Patrician branch of Roman government
Assembly of the Plebeians – Plebeian branch of Roman government
dictator – Roman leader who had absolute power only in emergencies
law codes – written law
tribunes –officials elected by Plebeians to protect their interests
veto – power to block a government action
consul – supervised the business of government and commanded Rome’s armies
Justinian’s Code – Body of Civil Law; included laws passed by assemblies and emperors and the legal writings of Roman judges

Judaism – religion of the Hebrews
Ten Commandments – God’s law for the Hebrews
monotheism – belief in one God
polytheism – belief in many Gods
prophets – Jewish spiritual leaders who interpreted God’s will
covenant – promise or binding agreement
diaspora – scattering of people (Jews)

Christianity – religion founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ
Paul (apostle) – a Jew who helped spread Christianity

Greece Terms

msimonsen — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:31:54 +0000

democracy – rule by the people
direct democracy – every citizen responsible for making laws
citizen – adult male Athenian
city-state – polis; political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands
monarchy – rule by queen or king
aristocracy – rule of the rich
philosophy – “love of wisdom”
oligarchy – rule of the few
theocracy – rule of a religion
Athens – (Greece) where democracy first took root
Sparta – (Greece) city-state turned military state
tyrant – leaders who gain power by force (for good or bad)
Pericles – statesman under which economy thrived and government became more democratic
jury – panel of citizens with authority to make final judgements
Plato – Socrates’ student; author of “Republic;” believed in an ideal state where regulations were placed for citizen’s protection
Aristotle – preferred a constitutional government governed by the many instead of the few