REVIEW GUIDE: EARLY MODERN EUROPE & HEMISPHERES UNITED
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Sequence of a few major developments in Western Europe in the early modern era: Renaissance, Protestant Reformation,
Catholic Counter Reformation, Absolutism, Enlightenment
European Renaissance: Origins, characteristics, & key historical figures
o What is “humanism”?
Protestant Reformation: Causes?, Began in 1517 (Why?), key historical figures [Martin Luther, John Calvin, King Henry VIII
+ reasons each separated from the Catholic Church], outcomes of the Protestant Reformation
Catholic Counter-Reformation: Causes? Actions taken by the Catholic Church? Global Effects?
o Jesuits (The Society of Jesus): What was it? Global role? + interactions with Native Americans in French,
Portuguese, & Spanish colonies in the Americas?
o Southern Western Europeans kingdoms remained strongly Catholic (Portugal, Spain, Italy) + France
Scientific Revolution: Significance + effects on Catholic Church + contributions of major scientists: Nicolaus Copernicus,
Galileo Galilei, John Harvey, Sir Isaac Newton
Age of Absolutism (Absolute Monarchs): What factors contributed to monarchs gaining absolute (total) power over their
nation-states? + How did absolute monarchs demonstrate their power and wealth? + Louis XIV as example of W.E. absolute
monarch (Why?)
The Enlightenment: What is it?/Goals?, How was the Enlightenment an extension of the Scientific Revolution?
o philosophers’ contributions: John Locke, Francois Voltaire, Jean-Jacques, Rousseau, Baron de Montesquieu, Adam
Smith
o Citizens did not force their absolute monarchs to adopt Enlightenment ideals in the early modern era!
o In the NEXT era, 1750-1900, the Enlightenment would shape revolutions in America, France, and Latin America
What is “mercantilism” + how did mercantilism encourage some W.European nation states to expand overseas?
What is a “joint stock company” + features of this new business + examples
Technology acquired by W.E. by the end of the post-classical era that allowed for maritime exploration and colonization +
their origins + how were these technologies obtained by W.Europeans in the post-classical era?
Motivations for Maritime exploration by Western European nation states, c1400-1750
o Zheng He’s Ming Expeditions (1405-1433) had no effect on Western European sea exploration since those expeditions
were cancelled well before Europeans reached the Indian O. for themselves by sea.
Exploration strategies and patterns by Portugal and Spain each
o Contributions of: Portugal’s Vasco da Gama, Spain’s Christopher Columbus
o 1488: Portugal reached Africa’s Cape of Good Hope
o 1492: Spain’s Columbus arrives in the Americas (Caribbean)
o 1498: Portugal’s Vasco da Gama arrived in the Indian O. & Calicut, India
o 1502: Portugal claims Brazil in S.America
o 1519-1522: Spain’s Ferdinand Magellan’s expeditions circumnavigated the globe & claimed Philippines for Spain
o Two new trade networks in this era: trans-Atlantic & trans-Pacific
o Importance of Silk Routes reduced due to new maritime sea routes.
Process of conquest & colonization in the Americas by European powers (ex. Spain, Portugal, English, French, Dutch)
o Spanish conquest of Aztecs (1521 by Cortes) & Inca (1532 by Pizarro) as examples
o GUNS, GERMS, & STEEL!
The Columbian Exchange: began Oct 12, 1492, What is it?
o Evidence of Columbian Exchange + its effects: foods, animals, diseases, human migrations
o Why was the introduction of disease so more severe for the Americas than it was Afro-Eurasia?
o Changes in demographics due to introductions of diseases, foods, & migrations to various regions of the world
o In the period of 1492-1750, New World crops of corn and potatoes helped the rural poor of Europe and East Asia
avoid starvation & promoted population growth. The same was true of corn and manioc in Sub-Saharan Africa.
o The introduction of the iron plow, draft animals (cattle & horses), and other metal farming tools to the Americas led
to deforestation for the sake of croplands and increased soil depletion
Nature of migrations of Western Europeans & Sub-Saharan Africans following discovery of the Americas: reasons,
destinations, impacts for each
Changes in the Americas’ economy due to colonization by W.Europeans?
Changes & continuities in religious practice by Native Americans due to exploration and colonization by W.Europeans?
Reasons for Russian expansion beyond Moscow, c1400-c1750  Russian Empire (a land-based empire)
o Most of the territory added to the Russian Empire in the 17th & 18th centuries was in Asia
Causes for the rise of czars as Russia’s absolute monarchs + examples (Ivan III, Ivan IV “the Terrible)
o Evidence of absolutist-style rule by Russia’s czars
Changes and continuities in Russian culture for the early modern era
Reasons for selective westernization by Czar Peter the Great and Empress Catherine the Great
o Westernizing reforms of Peter the Great?
 Motivations for Peter the Great’s expansion toward the Baltic Sea + role of St. Petersburg
o Westernizing reforms of Catherine the Great?
Limitations of westernization in Russia during this period?
o Nature of Russian serfdom during the early modern period?