ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

FOR THE MAY EXAMINATION

As we near the of our European History marathon and the National Examination looms on the horizon we must address the question: "What do I absolutely HAVE to know?" While there is no substitute for knowing everything we have studied this year the following list of Essential Questions might serve as a desparation guide for the needy. I suggest you research tem carefully, using your notes, the text, readings we have done, and your identification lists. Then put together an essay to answer the questions which follow. Write a thesis statement (broken into at least three parts) and an outline of the important facts you would include in crafting your answer. Be sure to include which of the "Wise Guys" would fit the context of each question.

The Essential Questions

RENAISSANCE

How can the Renaissance be used as a springboard for defining modernity?

Compare and contrast the Northern Renaissance with the Mediterranean Renaissance?

 

REFORMATION

Compare and contrast Martin Luther andJohn Calvin from economic, religious and social perspectives.

 

THE CZARS

Analyze the czars of Russia from the perspective of their attempts to control their aristocracy and their church and also the perspective of their relations with western Europe.

 

ECONOMICS

Trace the development of the Commercial Revolution.

 

THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Assess the similarities and differences between 16th century and 19th century imperialism.

 

17TH CENTURY ENGLAND

Trace the development of the English parliament during the 17th century.

 

17TH CENTURY FRANCE

Compare 17th century French Absolutism with 17th century eastern European Absolutism.

 

THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONB

What connection exists between the Enlightenment and the French Revolution?

 

NAPOLEON

Trace the long term effects of Napoleon I

 

SOCIALISM

Assess the differences between Charles Fourier, Louis Blanc, Karl Marx, Robert Owen, Edward Bernstein and Vladimir Lenin.

 

Why did western Europe never fully envelop Marxism?

 

BRITISH REFORM

Discuss the Parliamentary actions which brought social and political power to the middle and lower classes of English society in the 19th century.

 

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

What effect did the industrial revolution have upon the social classes?

(Break this into both the first AND second industrial revolutions)

 

GERMANY

Trace the history of Germany from its rise as a Prussian state through its collapse after the First World War.

 

19TH CENTURY THINKERS

Assess the extent to which Freud, Marx, and Einstein were enlightened thinkers.

 

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Beginning with the French Revolution and ending with the Treaty of Versailles, discuss the manner in which women began to achieve a role in society equal to men.

 

WORLD WAR I

How did more people in Europe change between 1914-1920 than they did from 1920 to the present?

 

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Analyze the events causing the decline of the British Empire.

 

POST WORLD WAR II

Trace the economic development of Post World War II Europe.

 

From the end of the Cold War explain how the political map of Europe has changed as the world approaches the millenium.

 

THE MODERN POLITICAL WORLD

Beginning with the end of World War II, trace the demise of the Soviet Union.

 

 

 

(Note: These are NOT normal essay type questions. They tend to be very broad in order to better serve as a review of the entire course.)