Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Secondary education

Absolute and Constitutional Monarchies

Characteristics of Absolute Monarchy

The King held absolute power over everybody. This power was justified by divine right, guaranteeing peace and stability for the realm.

Representative Example of Absolute Monarchy

The French Monarchy under **Louis XIV**.

Characteristics of Constitutional Monarchy

The King’s power was limited by courts and Parliament. This structure protected against the absolutist pretensions of the monarchy. Monarchs were selected by Parliament and their power was formalized by the acceptance of the **Bill of Rights**.

17th Century European Society and Economics

Population Trends in 17th Century Europe

The population of Europe decreased during the 17th century due to several factors:

• Poor harvests
• Wars

Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance.

Thermal Energy and Changes of State

When a change of state occurs, the energy transferred in heating up the substance is used to break the bonds between the molecules. The energy transferred does not increase the thermal energy but rather increases the internal energy of the substance.

Key Concepts

• The particles of a substance are in constant motion, and this increases as the substance heats up.
• Thermal energy is the average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance.
• During a change of state, the energy transferred in the heating process is used to break the bonds between molecules without increasing its thermal energy.

Temperature: Measurement

Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

Johannes Kepler deduced three fundamental laws of planetary motion:

• First Law: Elliptical Orbits – Planets orbit the Sun in ellipses, with the Sun at one focus.
• Second Law: Equal Areas in Equal Times – A line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time. This implies a planet's speed varies as it moves around its elliptical orbit, moving faster when closer to the Sun.
• Third Law: Harmonic Law – The square of a planet's orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit (P² ∝ a³). This law relates the orbital period of a planet to the size of its orbit.

Galileo Galilei: Key Astronomical Discoveries

Galileo's significant contributions... Continue reading "Foundations of Celestial Mechanics: Key Discoveries" »

The French Revolution's Aftermath

Reign of Terror

The wave of rumors and senseless panic that overcame France following the storming of the Bastille in 1789 led to the widespread destruction of manor houses and archives containing the feudal obligations of peasants.

The Napoleonic Wars

Napoleon Bonaparte

He overthrew the French Directory in 1799 and became Emperor of the French in 1804. He failed to defeat Great Britain and abdicated in 1814, returned to power briefly in 1815, but was defeated and died in exile.

Key Terms and Events

Coup d'état

Plebiscite

Concordat

An agreement between the Pope and Napoleon where Napoleon recognized Catholicism as the religion of the majority of France, and the Pope agreed not to ask for the return of any land seized... Continue reading "The Napoleonic Era and Latin American Revolutions" »

Key Figures & Concepts in History

Catherine the Great: Russian Monarch

A great monarch of Russia, Catherine the Great exchanged letters with Voltaire and initially sought to reform Russian laws. However, after a serf uprising, she granted nobles absolute power over their serfs. Ultimately, many of her reform goals remained unaccomplished.

Thomas Jefferson: US President & Drafter

The 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson favored a limited central government. He was also the chief drafter of the Declaration of Independence.

Federalists: Supporters of the Constitution

The Federalists were a political faction and movement that supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Francis Bacon: Scientific Method Pioneer

Francis Bacon... Continue reading "Influential Historical Figures & Key Concepts" »

Scientific Revolution (1500-1700)

The Scientific Revolution marked a major shift in thinking between 1500 and 1700, establishing modern science as a new way to gain knowledge about the natural world.

Key Concepts and Figures

Geocentric Theory

The theory placing Earth at the center of the universe.

Heliocentric Theory

The theory placing the Sun at the center of the universe.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian astronomer and mathematician who built his own telescope, observed four moons revolving around Jupiter, and provided crucial support for the heliocentric theory.

Scientific Method

A systematic method of procedure involving observation, measurement, experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses, which has characterized natural science

Synonyms

• Whether
• Chances
• Restore
• Skills

Passive Voice

Passive:

1. Stability was thought to be the most important thing in a society.
2. Children aren’t brought up in families here.
3. My uncle was sent some beautiful roses.
4. A lot of alcohol is being drunk at the party.

Rewrites

1. John must have copied...
2. We will have our windows washed tomorrow.
3. I shouldn’t have left my soma...
4. You aren’t allowed to have long,.../ You Can’t have
5. I bought a Mercedes to impress my new girlfriend.

Translations

1. You should give that disgusting director a taste of his own medicine.
2. That sweet smell brought back memories of my childhood.
3. Children are being taught while they sleep in the New World.
4. I like perfumes that set off emotions.
5. Some shops use very subtle scents so that the customers

Unit 3: Religious Reform and Spanish Hegemony

Corrupt Practices in the Church

• Indulgences were bought and sold.
• Clergy did not live humbly.
• Clergy did not honor their religious vows (for example: living with women, drinking, going to taverns) and they were not able to give proper spiritual guidance to their parishioners.
• They engaged in corrupt practices.

Impact of Indulgences on the Church's Spiritual Authority

Sins could be pardoned in exchange for money given to the Church. For Catholics, this was a way of becoming more spiritually and morally relaxed, as they no longer feared going to Hell.

The Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther then developed his own doctrine based on individual Christianity:

• Salvation through faith: In order to save your soul,

Wars Involving Carlos V

After he was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1520, Carlos V's main aspiration was to establish a universal Christian empire. The following groups were opposed to this:

• The Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire
• France
• The Ottoman Empire
• The Pope

Carlos V was constantly engaged in wars:

• War against France
• War against the Pope
• Flanders
• War against the Ottoman Empire
• War against the Protestants

Felipe II and His Territories

Felipe II, the son of Carlos V, reigned between 1556 and 1598. He inherited the Kingdoms of Spain and Burgundy. His uncle Fernando inherited the Habsburg Empire and the right to the imperial title.

Social Problems in the 16th Century

• Banditry in the Crown of Aragón, where outlaws attacked travelers and rich

Bartolomeu Dias

Portuguese explorer who, in 1488, led the first expedition to sail around the southern tip of Africa from the Atlantic Ocean and sight the Indian Ocean.

Prince Henry

Portuguese prince who started a school for sailors and sponsored early voyages of exploration.

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498, he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Portugal and Spain, declaring that newly discovered lands to the west of an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean would belong to Spain, and newly discovered lands to the east of the line would belong to Portugal.

Dutch East India Company

A company founded by the Dutch in the early... Continue reading "Defining Moments and Personalities in World History" »