17th Century Europe: Absolute Monarchies, War, and Society
Europe in the 17th Century: The Baroque Period
The 17th century in Europe is often referred to as the Baroque period, a time of significant political, economic, and social change.
Absolute Monarchy: France
France exemplified absolute monarchy, where the King held all power: legislative, executive, and judicial. During the reign of Louis XIV, the administration became more professional, the army was modernized, and mercantilism was applied through the creation of manufacturing industries. France became
Read MoreTsarist Russia, Revolutions, USSR, WWI, and the Great Depression
Tsarist Russia
The Tsarist Russian Empire was immense, encompassing multiple nationalities. It was characterized by traditional agriculture, low industrialization, the absolute power of the Tsar, and the predominance of the aristocracy and landowning bourgeoisie. A scarce majority of the population lived in rural areas, and the proletariat had reduced power. The Orthodox Church held significant influence. Poverty and lack of freedoms fueled opposition to Tsarism from political, professional, and
Read MoreKey Terms of World War I and the Russian Revolution
Key Terms: World War I and Russian Revolution
Armistice
End of military operations in a war. Equivalent to a cease-fire before the signing of peace treaties.
Bolshevik
A faction that split from the Russian Social Democratic Party in 1903. They advocated for a party led by a disciplined elite to educate and guide the masses. Their leader was Lenin.
Wilson’s Fourteen Points
A proposal presented by President Woodrow Wilson to the U.S. Congress in early 1918, outlining ideas for a lasting and just peace.
Read MoreAncient Greek and Roman Art and Architecture
Greek Architecture
The city lacked a regular basis until the sixth century BC. Hippodamus of Miletus established a regular plan called the Hippodamian plan. The most important buildings are the temples and theaters.
The Greek Temple
In this area, temples were high and fortified. The plan was rectangular and had three parts: pronaos, opisthodomos, and naos (or cella). Greek temples tended to be small because the cult was not performed inside (the sacrifice, which was the main rite, was performed outside
Read MoreSpanish Civil War (1936-1939): Causes, Development, and Consequences
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Historical Circumstances
The underlying problems of the working class persisted, with wealth concentrated among the elite. This led to a divided society, pitting the right-wing (supported by the Church) against the left-wing (representing the workers).
Remote Causes
- Opposition to liberal revolutions.
- Ideological clashes within the Spanish army.
- Limited modernization, including an unfair distribution of land.
- Influence of dominant European ideologies like Fascism, Nazism, and
19th Century Spain: People and Pivotal Moments
Key Figures and Events in 19th Century Spain
1820: A military takeover of the troops, who were to embark for America to fight the insurgents, led by Riego, forced King Ferdinand VII, unable to control the rebels, to swear allegiance to the Constitution of 1812. Thus began another brief period in the history of Spain, the Constitutional Triennium.
1823: In this year, a French army entered Spain to reinstate Ferdinand VII as absolute monarch. Without much resistance, these troops swept the country,
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