AP Euro Chapter 16

Form of government in which sovereignty is vested in a single person, the king or queen; absolute monarchs in the 16th and 17th centuries based their authority on the theory of the divine right of king - i.e. that they had received their authority from God and were responsible only to Him

Political system where heads of governmental administrative departments serve as a group to advise the head of state (Prime Minister). All these ministers are drawn from the majority party in the legislature (in Britain the House of Commons) and are responsible to it.

Implies a balance between authority and power of the government on the one hand, and on the other hand the rights and liberties of the subject or citizen; also the limitation of government by law and the rule of law; a constitution may be unwritten (British and Canadian) or written (American)

Novel authored by Miguel de Cervantes, perhaps the greatest work of Spanish literature. A survey of the entire fabric of Spanish society that can be read on several levels: as a burlesque of chivalric romances; as an exploration of conflicting views (idealistic vs. realistic) of life and of the world.

a joint stock company chartered by the States-General of the Netherlands to expand trade and promote relations between the Xdutch government and its colonial ventures. It established a colony at the Cape of Good Hope (1652), and in the 1630s it paid a return of 35% on investments

style of French art, architecture, and literature (ca. 1600-1750), based on admiration and imitation of Greek and Roman models but with greater exuberance and complexity.

Series of violent uprisings during the minority of Louis XIV triggered by oppressive taxation of the common people, ambitions of the nobles, and efforts of the parlement of Paris (highest French judicial body) to check the authority of the crown; the last attempt of the French nobility to resist the king by arms.

Prevailing economic theory of European nations in 16th and 17th centuries. It rested on the premise that a nation’s power and wealth were determined by its supply of precious metal which were to be acquired by increasing exports (paid for with gold) and reducing imports to achieve domestic self-sufficiency; mercantilism remained the dominant theory until the Industrial Revelation and articulation of theory of laissez faire

Series of treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession, ended French expansion in Europe, and marked the rise of the British Empire.

Members of a 18th century reform movement within the Church of England that advocated "purifying" it of Roman Catholic elements, such as bishops, elaborate ceremonial, the wedding ring. Calvinist in theology, Puritanism had broad social, ethical and political implications.

political theory articulated by French statesmen Richelieu (158501642) that holds that the interests and needs of the state may take precedence over traditional moral and international law

In Europe, the term refers to non-monarchial government. In the American context, traditionally a state governed by representatives elected on a broad basis of suffrage who serve the interests of all the people. Where election depends on the huge infusion of cash from private and corporate donors, and where scarcely 50% of eligible people vote, can the system be called republican or democratic?