User:Atcovi/AP European History/Chapter 4 - Scientific, Philosophical and Political Developments

End of the 16th century:


 * Decline in religiousness
 * Rise of secularism
 * 17th century = Turning point of modern state system Europe

Religiousness in Europe was decreasing. Christianity's validity at the time was significantly weak, giving a rise to secularism. This might've been because of the Thirty Years' War and other religious wars and several inner rebellions taking place.

Absolutism: Extension of monarchial power as a stabilizing force.

Absolutism was mostly seen in Louis XIV's France.


 * Witchcraft became a major issue in Europe - anything seen as abnormal or out-of-the-norm was dubbed witchcraft. The accused were usually female "witches". This hysteria spread all across Europe and resulted in multiple witch trials.
 * The witches usually confessed to crimes, but after intense torture (which now we see, present-day, that this is a bad form of trying to extract info).