Age of Absolutism Study Sheet

Absolute ruler- a person in charge who has unlimited powers; they are not
controlled by laws or customs.
Divine right- a theory that says that a ruler is in charge because God wants
them to be
Parliament- a lawmaking body chosen by the people
Monarchy- a form of government led by a king or a queen
Infrastructure- the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g.,
buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or business
Manufacturing- making something using machines
Armada- a fleet of warships

1.

What is mercantilism?
An economic theory that says the country with the most gold and
silver is the most powerful

2. What are 2 ways that a country can become richer?

-export more than they import
-build colonies to take advantage of
-place high tariffs (taxes) on imports
-only buy things from your country
3. What is supply?
How much of a product is available
4. What is demand?
What buyers want
5. What is an entrepreneur?
Someone who risks their money to make a profit
6. Why do people form joint stock companies?
To share the profits and potential losses from a business
7. What two obstacles did absolute rulers face?
Parliament, Nobles
8. What was Louis XIVs palace called?
Versailles

9. What are some of the things that Louis did at his palace?
-it was his house
-the seat of his government
-a reception place for important foreigners
-a place where he could watch his enemies
-a place to show off all things French
10.
What did Louis XIV waste most of his money on?
Expensive foreign wars to gain land

11.
Why was the marriage between Philip II and Queen Mary both a
good thing and a bad thing?
good- it brought together two major nations
bad- it led to persecution (abuse) of Protestants in England
12.
What weapon made Spain the most feared military in the world?
The Spanish Armada
13.
List two things that made Spains economy fail under Philip.
-too much silver brought from North America
-kicked out the Protestant and Muslim workers
-too many expensive wars
-not enough factories
14.
How did Philips intolerance of non-Catholics end up hurting
Spain?
The people he kicked out of the country offered valuable skills
15.
What happened to the Spanish Armada?
It was defeated by a much smaller British fleet
16.
Why was Russia so far behind the other European nations by the
1600s?
They had been ruled by the warlike Mongols
17.
What culture was Peter the most impressed with-and how did he
show it?
France-he encouraged French language and customs
18.
What is the name of the city that Peter built?
St. Petersburg

19.
How did Peter modernize Russia?
Building modern industries for ships and weapons
20.
How did Peter Westernize Russia?
Copying Western dress, language, grooming, and government