1. Absolutism
Visual Vocabulary

2. Triangular Trade
Colonial trade routes between Europe and its colonies, the West Indies, and Africa

3. Middle Passage
The leg of the Triangular Trade route on which slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas.

4. Columbian Exchange
The global exchange of goods, ideas, plants and animals, and disease that began with Columbus’ exploration of the Americas

5. Commercial Revolution
Expansion of trade and business that transformed European economies during the 16th and 17th Centuries.

6. Mercantilism
Policy by which a nation sought to export more than it imported in order to build its supply of gold and silver

8. Hapsburg Empire
Central European empire that includes the lands of the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands.

10. Keeping up with the Hapsburgs

17. Philip II
King of Spain. Reign marked by the colonization of the Philippine Islands and the defeat of the Spanish Armada after an unsuccessful attempt to invade England.

18. Spanish Armada
Fleet of more than 130 ships and 20,000 men. One of the largest navies in history.

19. Huguenots
A French Protestant

20. Cardinal Richelieu
Chief of French government. Established absolute monarchy and broke the power of the Huguenots.

21. Louis XIV
Sun King. King of France from

23. Peter the Great
Russian czar. Took control at age 10. Transformed Russia from a backward nation into a progressive one.

24. Undercover Boss

25. Catherine the Great
Empress of Russia after Peter the Great.

26. Thomas Hobbes
English political philosopher. Wrote the Leviathan. Believed that leaders should have absolute power because it would help resolve the problems of human selfishness.

27. John Locke
English Philosopher who believed that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences.

28. Lassez Faire
“Hands off”. Allowing businesses to operate with little or no government interference.

29. Adam Smith
Wrote Wealth of Nations. Believed that supply and demand should dictate the economy.

30. Social Contract
An agreement by which people gave up their freedom to a powerful government in order to avoid chaos

31. Natural Rights
Rights that belonged to all humans from birth.

32. Divine Right
Idea that God chose the monarchy to act as God’s representative on Earth.

33. Enlightenment
Intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought to solve problems (not emotion)

35. Separation of Powers
Divided the functions of government into 3 branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

36. Free Market
Economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses

37. Baroque
Style of art, music, and architecture that is characterized by ornate detail

38. Rococo
Style of art that is distinguished by elegant refinement of its elaborateness