AP European History Flashcards: The Enlightenment

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on The Enlightenment, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP European History.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which work is Denis Diderot famous for?

Answer: Encyclopédie. A comprehensive collection of knowledge compiled with d'Alembert.

Flashcard 2: Which Enlightenment thinker wrote 'The Social Contract'?

Answer: Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Outlined his theory of legitimate political authority and democracy.

Flashcard 3: What was the Enlightenment's impact on politics?

Answer: Promoted ideas of democracy and liberty. Laid intellectual groundwork for constitutional government and individual rights.

Flashcard 4: What does the term 'Philosophes' refer to?

Answer: Enlightenment intellectuals. French term for the intellectual leaders of the movement.

Flashcard 5: What was the Enlightenment's view on education?

Answer: Advocated for widespread education. Believed knowledge and reason could improve society.

Flashcard 6: What does the term 'Philosophes' refer to?

Answer: Enlightenment intellectuals. French term for the intellectual leaders of the movement.

Flashcard 7: What did Rousseau believe about society?

Answer: Society corrupts innate goodness. Famous for saying 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.'

Flashcard 8: What did Voltaire advocate for?

Answer: Freedom of speech and religion. Championed tolerance and fought against religious persecution.

Flashcard 9: What did the Enlightenment emphasize in science?

Answer: Reason and empirical evidence. Promoted scientific method and observation over religious authority.

Flashcard 10: What did Beccaria argue for in 'On Crimes and Punishments'?

Answer: Reform of the criminal justice system. Opposed torture and capital punishment, favored rehabilitation.

Flashcard 11: Who was a major Enlightenment figure in economics?

Answer: Adam Smith. Developed theories of free markets and division of labor.

Flashcard 12: What was Montesquieu's key contribution to political theory?

Answer: Separation of powers. Proposed dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Flashcard 13: What did Enlightenment thinkers think about tradition?

Answer: Challenged traditional authority. Promoted critical thinking over accepting inherited beliefs.

Flashcard 14: What was Rousseau's view on education?

Answer: Education should develop natural instincts. Outlined in 'Emile,' emphasized natural development over formal instruction.

Flashcard 15: What is Deism?

Answer: Belief in a rational God who created the universe. Rejected organized religion while maintaining belief in divine creator.

Flashcard 16: What did Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations' advocate for?

Answer: Free-market economics. Introduced the concept of the 'invisible hand' in economics.

Flashcard 17: What did Voltaire advocate for?

Answer: Freedom of speech and religion. Championed tolerance and fought against religious persecution.

Flashcard 18: What was the impact of Enlightenment on art?

Answer: Rise of neoclassicism. Emphasized classical Greek and Roman ideals of beauty and order.

Flashcard 19: What is Immanuel Kant's famous motto associated with the Enlightenment?

Answer: Sapere aude (Dare to know). Encouraged intellectual courage and independent thinking.

Flashcard 20: What was the purpose of the Encyclopédie?

Answer: To gather and disseminate knowledge. Aimed to compile all human knowledge in accessible format.

Flashcard 21: Which Enlightenment figure is known for 'Candide'?

Answer: Voltaire. Satirical novel critiquing optimistic philosophy and social institutions.

Flashcard 22: What is Enlightenment despotism?

Answer: Monarchs embracing Enlightenment ideas while maintaining power. Rulers like Frederick the Great and Catherine II implemented some reforms.

Flashcard 23: What concept did Rousseau introduce in his writings?

Answer: General will. The collective will of the people as the basis of legitimate government.

Flashcard 24: What did John Locke believe about human nature?

Answer: Humans are rational and capable of self-improvement. Rejected the idea of original sin, emphasized experience over innate ideas.

Flashcard 25: What did Enlightenment thinkers prioritize in government?

Answer: Consent of the governed. Rejected divine right of kings in favor of popular sovereignty.

Flashcard 26: What did the Enlightenment criticize?

Answer: Tradition and authority. Questioned established institutions in favor of rational inquiry.

Flashcard 27: What is the Enlightenment's legacy?

Answer: Inspiration for democratic revolutions. Ideas influenced the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

Flashcard 28: What is 'tabula rasa' in Locke's theory?

Answer: The mind is a blank slate at birth. Locke's theory that experience shapes all knowledge and personality.

Flashcard 29: Who wrote 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'?

Answer: Mary Wollstonecraft. Argued for women's equal access to education and political rights.

Flashcard 30: What is 'natural law' in the context of the Enlightenment?

Answer: Universal principles governing human conduct. Discoverable through reason, forming the basis of human rights.

Flashcard 31: What was the Enlightenment?

Answer: An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism. Emerged in 18th-century Europe, challenging traditional authority.

Flashcard 32: What was the Enlightenment's view on education?

Answer: Advocated for widespread education. Believed knowledge and reason could improve society.

Flashcard 33: What did Enlightenment thinkers think about tradition?

Answer: Challenged traditional authority. Promoted critical thinking over accepting inherited beliefs.

Flashcard 34: What did Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations' advocate for?

Answer: Free-market economics. Introduced the concept of the 'invisible hand' in economics.

Flashcard 35: What was the Enlightenment?

Answer: An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism. Emerged in 18th-century Europe, challenging traditional authority.

Flashcard 36: What did Beccaria argue for in 'On Crimes and Punishments'?

Answer: Reform of the criminal justice system. Opposed torture and capital punishment, favored rehabilitation.

Flashcard 37: What did the Enlightenment thinkers believe about progress?

Answer: Human society could improve through reason. Optimistic view that rational thinking could solve social problems.

Flashcard 38: What is the main idea of John Locke's 'Two Treatises of Government'?

Answer: Natural rights and government's role to protect them. Argued people have inherent rights that governments must protect.

Flashcard 39: What did the Enlightenment emphasize in science?

Answer: Reason and empirical evidence. Promoted scientific method and observation over religious authority.

Flashcard 40: What did Enlightenment thinkers prioritize in government?

Answer: Consent of the governed. Rejected divine right of kings in favor of popular sovereignty.

Flashcard 41: What role did salons play during the Enlightenment?

Answer: Centers for intellectual exchange. Hosted by educated women, they fostered philosophical discussion.

Flashcard 42: What was Rousseau's view on education?

Answer: Education should develop natural instincts. Outlined in 'Emile,' emphasized natural development over formal instruction.

Flashcard 43: Who wrote 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'?

Answer: Mary Wollstonecraft. Argued for women's equal access to education and political rights.

Flashcard 44: What was Montesquieu's key contribution to political theory?

Answer: Separation of powers. Proposed dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Flashcard 45: What is the main idea of John Locke's 'Two Treatises of Government'?

Answer: Natural rights and government's role to protect them. Argued people have inherent rights that governments must protect.

Flashcard 46: What is the significance of the Enlightenment in history?

Answer: Foundation for modern Western thought. Established principles of individual rights and democratic government.

Flashcard 47: What did Rousseau believe about society?

Answer: Society corrupts innate goodness. Famous for saying 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.'

Flashcard 48: What did the Enlightenment criticize?

Answer: Tradition and authority. Questioned established institutions in favor of rational inquiry.

Flashcard 49: What was the purpose of the Encyclopédie?

Answer: To gather and disseminate knowledge. Aimed to compile all human knowledge in accessible format.

Flashcard 50: Which Enlightenment thinker wrote 'The Social Contract'?

Answer: Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Outlined his theory of legitimate political authority and democracy.

Flashcard 51: What is Immanuel Kant's famous motto associated with the Enlightenment?

Answer: Sapere aude (Dare to know). Encouraged intellectual courage and independent thinking.

Flashcard 52: What is the main theme of Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason'?

Answer: Limits of human understanding. Explored what human reason can and cannot determine about reality.

Flashcard 53: What was the Enlightenment's impact on religion?

Answer: Promoted secularism and criticized organized religion. Questioned religious dogma and promoted rational approaches to faith.

Flashcard 54: Which monarch is known as an enlightened despot?

Answer: Catherine the Great. Russian empress who corresponded with Voltaire and implemented some reforms.

Flashcard 55: What is Enlightenment despotism?

Answer: Monarchs embracing Enlightenment ideas while maintaining power. Rulers like Frederick the Great and Catherine II implemented some reforms.

Flashcard 56: What concept did Rousseau introduce in his writings?

Answer: General will. The collective will of the people as the basis of legitimate government.

Flashcard 57: What did John Locke believe about human nature?

Answer: Humans are rational and capable of self-improvement. Rejected the idea of original sin, emphasized experience over innate ideas.

Flashcard 58: What did David Hume contribute to philosophy?

Answer: Empiricism and skepticism. Questioned the reliability of human knowledge and causation.

Flashcard 59: What was the impact of Enlightenment on art?

Answer: Rise of neoclassicism. Emphasized classical Greek and Roman ideals of beauty and order.

Flashcard 60: What was the Enlightenment's impact on religion?

Answer: Promoted secularism and criticized organized religion. Questioned religious dogma and promoted rational approaches to faith.

Flashcard 61: What role did salons play during the Enlightenment?

Answer: Centers for intellectual exchange. Hosted by educated women, they fostered philosophical discussion.

Flashcard 62: What is the main theme of Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason'?

Answer: Limits of human understanding. Explored what human reason can and cannot determine about reality.

Flashcard 63: What did Thomas Hobbes argue in 'Leviathan'?

Answer: Need for a strong central authority. Believed life without government would be 'nasty, brutish, and short.'

Flashcard 64: Which work is Denis Diderot famous for?

Answer: Encyclopédie. A comprehensive collection of knowledge compiled with d'Alembert.

Flashcard 65: Which Enlightenment figure is known for 'Candide'?

Answer: Voltaire. Satirical novel critiquing optimistic philosophy and social institutions.

Flashcard 66: Which monarch is known as an enlightened despot?

Answer: Catherine the Great. Russian empress who corresponded with Voltaire and implemented some reforms.

Flashcard 67: What was the Enlightenment's impact on politics?

Answer: Promoted ideas of democracy and liberty. Laid intellectual groundwork for constitutional government and individual rights.

Flashcard 68: What did Thomas Hobbes argue in 'Leviathan'?

Answer: Need for a strong central authority. Believed life without government would be 'nasty, brutish, and short.'

Flashcard 69: Who was a major Enlightenment figure in economics?

Answer: Adam Smith. Developed theories of free markets and division of labor.

Flashcard 70: What is Deism?

Answer: Belief in a rational God who created the universe. Rejected organized religion while maintaining belief in divine creator.

Flashcard 71: What is 'natural law' in the context of the Enlightenment?

Answer: Universal principles governing human conduct. Discoverable through reason, forming the basis of human rights.

Flashcard 72: What is the Enlightenment's legacy?

Answer: Inspiration for democratic revolutions. Ideas influenced the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

Flashcard 73: What did David Hume contribute to philosophy?

Answer: Empiricism and skepticism. Questioned the reliability of human knowledge and causation.

Flashcard 74: What did the Enlightenment thinkers believe about progress?

Answer: Human society could improve through reason. Optimistic view that rational thinking could solve social problems.

Flashcard 75: What is the significance of the Enlightenment in history?

Answer: Foundation for modern Western thought. Established principles of individual rights and democratic government.

Flashcard 76: What is 'tabula rasa' in Locke's theory?

Answer: The mind is a blank slate at birth. Locke's theory that experience shapes all knowledge and personality.