ch 17 questions

Which artist is best known for his portraits of Spanish nobles during Spain's golden century?

El Greco

During the 1700s, which countries battled for control of the German states?

Prussia and Austria

What was the purpose of the Edict of Nantes in 1598?

The Edict of Nantes marked the end of France's Wars of Religion [1562 - 1598] The Edict of Nantes, issued on April 13, 1598, by Henry IV of France, granted the Calvinist Protestants of France (also known as Huguenots) substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic.

As a result of Peter the Great's war against Sweden, Russia gained

The baltic sea

Peter the Great forced Russians to accept social reforms that would make their culture more like that of

Western Europeans

What was the outcome for Poland in 1795 as a result of actions by Russia, Austria, and Prussia?

1795 is the date of the third, and final, Partition of Poland (or, more properly, Poland-Lithuania, since it was a union of two countries). It was divided between the three, and wiped off the map. The country was a de-facto Russian protectorate since 1717, and the two previous partitions were in 1772 and 1793. All three partitions were preceded by a Polish attempt to reform or at least throw off the dependence from Russia (first the Confederacy of Bar, then the May Constitution and a war with Russia in its defence, and finally the Kosciuszko Uprising).

What were the results of the Thirty Years' War?

As a result of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), Switzerland and the Netherlands became independent; Germany became fragmented and its population was greatly reduced; and France soon became a dominant power in western continental Europe. The war also saw Spain begin to decline as a colonial power. The Thirty Years' War was the last major religious war in mainland Europe, and the destruction wrought by mercenary soldiers led many nations to begin developing standing national armies instead. The Peace of Augsburg agreements (1555) were endorsed. The recognition of the rights of Protestants greatly displeased Rome, where the Westphalian treaties were denounced by Pope Innocent X.

What were four results of the Thirty Years' War?

France emerged a clear winner, gaining territory on both its Spanish and German frontiers. The Hapsburgs were big losers because they had to accept the almost total independence of all the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. The Netherlands and the Swiss Federation (present-day Switzerland) won recognition as independent states. The Thirty Years' War left Germany divided into more than 360 separate states. Also, during the war many crops were destroyed, villages were burned and innocent people were killed.

Describe three ways that Henry IV laid the foundation for absolutism in France.

He became catholic since it would be hard for a protestant to rule a majority catholic land. To protect Protestants, however, he issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598. It granted the Huguenots religious toleration and let them fortify their own towns and cities. Royal officials administered justice, improved roads, built bridges, and revived agriculture. By building the royal bureaucracy and reducing the influence of nobles, Henry IV laid the foundations for royal absolutism.

Explain three ways that Philip II strengthened the power of the monarchy in Spain.

He sought to expand Spanish influence, strengthen the Catholic Church, and make his own power absolute. Thanks in part to silver from the Americas, he made Spain the foremost power in Europe.

List the successes and failures of Louis XIV.

In an uprising called the Fronde, nobles, merchants, peasants, and the urban poor rebelled—each group for its own reasons. On one occasion, rioters drove the boy king from his palace. When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis resolved to take over the government himself. Louis XIV firmly believed in divine right. Louis did not once call a meeting of the Estates General, the medieval council made up of representatives of all French social classes. In fact, the Estates General did not meet between 1614 and 1789. Thus, unlike the English Parliament, the Estates General played no role in checking royal power. Louis spent many hours each day attending to government affairs. He expanded the bureaucracy and appointed intendants, royal officials who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out his policies in the provinces. Louis cemented ties between the middle class and the monarchy. Under Louis XIV, the French army became the strongest in Europe.

Which territory was divided into many small states as a result of the Thirty Years' War?

In the Thirty-years war, Germany's commerce was destroyed, its people burdened with taxes, and its territory divided into a multitude of small states.

French styles of art, culture, manners, and customs became the standard for European taste as a result of the reign of which king?

Louis XIV

Describe how the balance of power affected Europe in the late 1700s

Louis XIV poured vast resources into wars to expand French borders. At first, he did gain some territory. His later wars were disastrous, though, because rival rulers joined forces to check French ambitions. Led by the dutch or the the English, these alliances sought to maintain a balance of power, a distribution of military and economic power that would prevent any one nation from dominating Europe.

In the late 1500s, France was torn apart by religious wars between Catholics and?

The French Wars of Religion (1562-98) is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots)

The Stuart kings' claims to absolute power were challenged by what group?

The Parliament

Why did Prussia battle Austria during the 1700s?

The Pragmatic Sanction allowed Maria Theresa to come to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire (Austria), Frederick the Great saw this as an opportunity to expand Prussian lands. He decided to seize the area of Silesia from Austria. This led to the War of the Austrian Succession.

Why did Peter the Great fight the Ottoman Turks?

The Turks kept attacking north. Originally their main enemy in the area was Poland (who saved Austria when the Turks were besieging Vienna), but Russia (together with Prussia and Austria) managed to destroy Poland- and found itself the target of Turkish expansion. On the other side- RUssia was not so "innocent" either- it had just conquered Ukraine and wanted to get warm sea ports on the Black Sea- preferably as far as Constantinople (Istambul) so as to have direct access to the Mediteranean

Explain three reasons why Spanish power declined in the 1600s.

lack of leadership - after Phillip II Spains rulers were far less able then Philip II Economic Problems - Costly overseas wars drained wealth out of Spain almost as fast as it came in. Then, too, treasure from the Americas led Spain to neglect farming and commerce. The government heavily taxed the small middle class, weakening a group that in other European nations supported royal power. The expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain deprived the economy of many skilled artisans and merchants