Middle Ages, Crusades, Renaissance, Reformation
Governments are established to provide services that individuals cannot supply for themselves
The main purpose of a constitution is to describe relationships between citizens & gov’t
Absolute monarchies in theory answer only to God
Divine right & Mandate of Heaven justify political power of a monarchy
The Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Reform Bill of 1832 and the Parliament Act of 1911 in
England limited the power of the monarchy & led to democratic principles
Democratic governments protect basic civil liberties
Oliver Cromwell was the leader of the Puritan army that overthrew the tyrannical Charles I &
established the Commonwealth of England
Manorialism was the economic system which existed in Europe during the Middle Ages
Feudalism resulted in the absence or weakness of an effective central authority or gov’t
A feudal society is characterized by a rigid class structure & emphasizes social order
In a feudal society, an individuals social status was determined by birth
Political, economic & social power in a feudal society was based chiefly on possession of land
The Roman Catholic Church provided unification, stability & unity during the Middle Ages
The development of new economic interests for Europe & spread of Middle Eastern culture were some
major results of the Crusades
Francis Bacon, Galileo & Isaac Newton promoted the idea that knowledge should be based on
experimentation & observation
The clergy expressed opposition to the scientific method during the 16th & 17th centuries
The Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment examined natural laws governing the universe, believed
individual achievement & dignity are of great importance & a new questioning spirit & attitude
occurred
The writings of the Enlightenment encouraged the natural rights of man
John Locke agreed that power tends to corrupt, & absolute power corrupts absolutely
Many ideas of Locke, Montesquieu & Rousseau were associated with political reforms that ended
absolute monarchy in France which provided intellectual spark for the American & French
Revolutions
The power of the monarchy declined over a long period of time when democracy developed in Great
Britain
Peter the Great & Catherine the Great changed Russia by introducing Western ideas & customs
During the Renaissance, the philosophy of humanism brought about the decrease in the power of the
Roman Catholic Church
A characteristic of humanism was an appreciation for the basic worth of individual achievement
An immediate result of the European Age of Exploration was European influence in the Western
Hemisphere
Renaissance brought Europe out of a long deep sleep
New Christian denominations emerged as a result of the Reformation
The presence of a wealthy leisure class contributes to artistic achievement
Technological & military superiority of European nations enabled Western Europe to dominate large
parts of Asia & Africa in the 19th & 20th centuries