Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of History

Causes of the French Revolution

• The influence of the Enlightenment: French thinkers and the bourgeoisie supported the Enlightenment and tried to put these ideas into practice
• The economic crisis -> the French state was bankrupt caused by:
  • The participation in wars
  • The royal extravagance (luxury parties and luxury goods)
• The social crisis -> the 3 estates were discontented:
  • The nobility and the clergy wanted to protect their privileges. They refused to pay. Ministers were demanding this reform
  • The bourgeoisie wanted to abolish absolutism and vote
  • Petite bourgeoisie and the peasantry suffered economic crisis -> causes:
    • Poor harvest
    • Wars
    • High taxes
• Political crisis -> Louis XVI governed France as an absolute monarch and opposed meetings of the

Roger of Hoveden’s Chronicle (early 13th c.)

This is a bilingual edition of a fragment of the chronicle written in the early 13th century by Roger of Hoveden, an Anglo-Norman monk. It is written in the form of a letter to Pope Alexander, so it is full of religious expressions.

The Normans in England

The Normans took possession of England after William “the Conqueror” won the Battle of Hastings against Saxon king Harold in 1066, a date that marks the beginning of the medieval period in England according to most historians. They brought the French language to England and professed the Christian religion.

Feudalism in England

With the coming of the Normans, a very medieval concept was introduced - feudalism, which was a social system of dependence... Continue reading "Feudalism and Conflict in Medieval England" »

Emerging Economies: BRICS and MINTs

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China)

Over the past few decades, several countries have emerged as significant players on the global stage, capturing attention with their robust growth and socio-political stability. These emerging economies, known as the BRICS, are projected to be among the largest economies by 2050, potentially surpassing the G6 nations due to their large populations and rapid GDP growth.

China's Economic Dominance: China has undoubtedly been at the forefront of global growth, outpacing other countries by a considerable margin. As the world's leading manufacturer, China's economic success hinges on global demand for its products. However, the country faces the challenge of balancing its GDP... Continue reading "Emerging Economies: BRICS, MINTs, and the Shifting Global Landscape" »

Hoovervilles: Shantytowns of the Great Depression

A Nation's Struggle for Shelter

During the Great Depression, resourcefulness became a necessity for survival. People salvaged discarded materials like lumber, tin, cardboard, tar paper, glass, and canvas to construct makeshift shelters known as Hoovervilles. These shantytowns, named after President Herbert Hoover, dotted the American landscape, a stark reminder of the widespread poverty and unemployment. While some residents with carpentry skills built relatively sturdy structures, others cobbled together packing boxes and whatever they could find. Some even resorted to living in empty water mains. The ingenuity and desperation of the era were evident in these makeshift communities.

The Challenge

Axis Victories (1939-1941)

Axis Powers: Japan, Italy, and Germany

Following the invasion of Poland in September 1939, Hitler initiated the 'Blitzkrieg' (lightning war) strategy, employing surprise attacks, aerial support, and Panzer divisions. Poland was subsequently divided between the USSR and Germany.

In 1940, Germany invaded and occupied much of Western Europe, including Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and France. Great Britain remained the sole nation resisting German occupation. To prepare for a potential invasion of Britain, the German air force launched bombing campaigns on British ports and cities during the Battle of Britain. Britain successfully resisted the attacks, prompting Hitler to shift his strategy and impose a blockade... Continue reading "World War II: A Timeline of Key Events" »

By 1800, the London Corresponding Society and Paine’s The Rights of Man were banned by the government. As Thompson explained, every time the working classes tried to assert their rights, they were repressed. However, The Rights of Man continued to be read and circulated in secret.

Thompson´s Making of the English working class can be divided into three parts:

Examine the Notions of Kingship Mentioned in the Gandatindu Jataka

Answer: Popular Perceptions of Kings - The Gandatindu Jataka describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king.

1. When the king went in disguise to find out what his subjects thought about him, each one of them cursed him for their miseries, complaining that they were attacked by robbers at night and by tax collectors during the day.
2. To escape from this situation, people abandoned their villages and went to live in the forest.
3. As this story indicates, the relationship between a king and his subjects, especially the rural population, could often be strained – kings frequently tried to fill their coffers by demanding high taxes, and peasants, in particular, found such demands

Decolonization and the Cold War (1945-1991)

The Cold War

Overview

The Cold War (1945-1991) was a period of geopolitical tension between the Western Bloc (led by the USA, promoting liberal democracy and capitalism) and the Eastern Bloc (led by the USSR, advocating for a single-party system and a planned economy).

Stages

1. Formation of blocs (1945-1953)
2. Coexistence and confrontation (1953-1968)
3. Détente (1968-1979)
4. Renewed conflict (1979-1985)
5. Crisis and fall of the Soviet bloc (1985-1991)

Key Events and Developments

Formation of Blocs (1945-1953)

• Iron Curtain: The division of Europe into Western (democratic and capitalist) and Eastern (communist) blocs.
• Marshall Plan (1947): Implemented by the USA to reconstruct Western Europe and contain communism.
• NATO (1949)

American Revolution (1775-1783)

The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a period in which the 13 colonies on the Atlantic side of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States of America (USA). Americans complained that they had to pay high taxes to Great Britain but were given no political representation.

Immediate Causes of the French Revolution

• Unemployment increase
• Market went into recession
• Cost of living doubled
• American War of Independence
• Payment failures

Key Events of the French Revolution

The Beginning

In 1789, the Estates General finally met. There were 291 representatives of the Church, 270 nobles, and 578 of the Third Estate. They immediately asked to change the voting system, at least to one person, one... Continue reading "American and French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts" »

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism

In Germany, Italy, and the USSR, authoritarian dictatorships came to power. In these regimes, power was concentrated in the hands of a supreme leader and one ruling political party. In some cases, these evolved into totalitarian regimes (a form of government in which the leader's control over the government and society was absolute).

Factors contributing to the rise of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes:

• The war had aroused nationalist feelings.
• The power of the state increased with state intervention in the economy and society during the crisis.
• New parties were formed that represented the working masses.

Characteristics of the regimes:

• The government was an authoritarian dictatorship.
• These regimes pursued