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Essays for Test 1 |
1. Discuss the “transition to the modern state” emphasizing
at least two of the following:
What is absolutism?
Discuss how
Discuss the "English revolution" of the 17th century. How was the constitutional crisis resolved by 1688?
Discuss the failure of
2. Discuss the Scientific Revolution emphasizing the
contributions of Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler. How did Isaac Newton create a
"system" from the theories of the former? Discuss the theories
of knowledge of Bacon and Descartes. What did each believe knowledge was? How
did the theories of each contribute to the Scientific Revolution? did the Scientific Revolution contribute to the
modern world? What is the difference between the modern science and previous
science?
3. What was the Enlightenment? How did enlightenment thinkers view life and society? Be able to discuss at least two of the following:
Who was Voltaire and what did he write? What is the role of the critic in society?
Discuss the political
ideas of Montesquieu. How did his writings influence political thought in
What was enlightened despotism? Who were the enlightened despots, and what did they try to accomplish?
Who was Rousseau?
Discuss his concept of the "General Will."
4. Discuss the French Revolution, emphasizing the following:
The moderate demands of
the Third Estate
The role of war, Louis
XVI, and the sans culottes in radicalizing the French Revolution
The
role of Robspierre and the "
5. Discuss the rise of Napoleon. How can he be called both subverter and preserver of the French Revolution?