(DBQs) Unit 3
​1. DBQ: The Rise of Absolute Monarchies (Louis XIV and Peter the Great)
Prompt:
To what extent did Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia use similar methods to establish and consolidate absolute monarchies in their respective countries?
Documents:

1. Excerpts from Louis XIV's memoirs, outlining his approach to royal power and control over nobility.
2. An excerpt from a letter from Peter the Great to his nobles discussing the reforms to strengthen the monarchy.
3. A portrait of Louis XIV and an analysis of its symbolic representation of royal authority.
4. Excerpts from the French court’s daily rituals under Louis XIV, emphasizing the role of the monarch.
5. A decree by Peter the Great ordering reforms to the Russian military and state administration.
6. A map illustrating the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great's reign.

2. DBQ: The English Civil War and Glorious Revolution
Prompt:
To what extent did the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution reflect the growing influence of Parliament and the decline of monarchical power in England?
Documents:

1. An excerpt from King Charles I’s speech to Parliament before the Civil War, asserting his belief in the divine right of kings.
2. A passage from the Petition of Right (1628), listing grievances against the monarchy.
3. A letter from John Locke to a colleague, discussing the principles of government and natural rights during the Glorious Revolution.
4. A pamphlet from a Puritan leader advocating for Parliament’s authority over the monarchy.
5. A letter from William of Orange to Parliament, outlining the conditions under which he would assume the English throne.
6. The Bill of Rights (1689), which formalized Parliament’s power after the Glorious Revolution.

3. DBQ: Economic Developments (Mercantilism and the Commercial Revolution)
Prompt:
How did the economic policies of mercantilism and the Commercial Revolution contribute to the development of European nations in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Documents:

1. A passage from Jean-Baptiste Colbert’s economic policies as finance minister under Louis XIV, advocating for protectionist measures.
2. An excerpt from an English merchant’s letter discussing the benefits of expanding colonial trade during the Commercial Revolution.
3. A map showing the European colonial empires and trade routes in the 17th century.
4. A graph of European population growth and its impact on demand for goods and services during the period.
5. A pamphlet describing the formation of joint-stock companies in the 17th century.
6. An excerpt from Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, critiquing mercantilist policies.

4. DBQ: The Scientific Revolution (c. 1648–1815)
Prompt:
To what extent did the Scientific Revolution challenge traditional views of the universe and the role of human beings in the cosmos?
Documents:

1. Excerpt from Copernicus’s On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, arguing for the heliocentric model of the universe.
2. An excerpt from Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, defending the Copernican model against religious opposition.
3. A passage from Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica, explaining the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
4. A letter from René Descartes discussing the method of doubt and the search for scientific certainty.
5. A painting of the Scientific Academy in Paris, showcasing the rise of scientific institutions during the period.
6. An excerpt from the Encyclopédie by Diderot and d’Alembert, reflecting Enlightenment views on science and reason.

5. DBQ: Philosophical Developments of the Enlightenment (c. 1648–1815)
Prompt:
How did Enlightenment philosophers challenge traditional political, social, and religious views in 17th and 18th-century Europe?
Documents:

1. An excerpt from Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan, discussing the necessity of absolute monarchy for societal order.
2. An excerpt from John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government, advocating for natural rights and the role of government in protecting them.
3. A passage from Voltaire’s Candide, criticizing religious intolerance and advocating for civil liberties.
4. A letter from Montesquieu discussing the separation of powers in government.
5. A portrait of Rousseau, accompanied by an excerpt from The Social Contract, discussing the concept of the “general will.”
6. A critique of the Catholic Church's role in society, written by Enlightenment thinkers.

6. DBQ: Political Developments (c. 1648–1815)
Prompt:
To what extent did the political ideas of the Enlightenment influence the development of modern European states and political systems by the early 19th century?
Documents:

1. An excerpt from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789), outlining Enlightenment-inspired principles of freedom and equality.
2. A passage from Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws, advocating for a separation of powers in government.
3. A speech by Frederick II of Prussia, reflecting Enlightenment ideas about absolute monarchy and reform.
4. A letter from Catherine the Great of Russia discussing her interest in Enlightenment ideas and reforming Russian society.
5. An excerpt from Immanuel Kant’s essay What is Enlightenment?, encouraging individuals to use reason and challenge authority.
6. A map showing the spread of revolutionary ideals across Europe during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

These DBQs focus on key developments in European political, economic, and philosophical history during the early modern period and provide a broad range of primary source documents for students to analyze.