AP European History Flashcards: 18th-Century Culture and Arts
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 14 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was Baroque art?
A style of art and music prominent until about 1750 that promoted religious feeling and was employed by monarchs to illustrate state power.
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What was Baroque art?
A style of art and music prominent until about 1750 that promoted religious feeling and was employed by monarchs to illustrate state power.
How did the subject matter of the arts shift during the 18th century?
The arts moved from celebrating religious themes and royal power to an increased emphasis on private life and the public good.
What were the two primary functions of Baroque art and music before 1750?
Baroque art and music were used to promote religious feeling and to illustrate the power of the state and its monarchs.
What was the overall change in European cultural and intellectual life from 1648 to 1815?
European cultural and intellectual life was maintained through traditional institutions but also changed significantly due to new artistic movements, a growing literate public, and new forms of consumption.
What is Neoclassicism?
An 18th-century artistic style that reflected the values of commercial and bourgeois society by expressing new Enlightenment ideals of citizenship and political participation.
What was the relationship between printed materials and public opinion in the 18th century?
Despite censorship, the growing availability of varied printed materials for an expanding literate public led to the development of public opinion.
What was the consumer revolution of the 18th century?
A societal shift shaped by a new concern for privacy, which encouraged the purchase of new goods for homes and created new venues for leisure activities.
What were three key effects of the 18th-century consumer revolution?
It fostered a new concern for privacy, encouraged the purchase of new household goods, and created new venues for leisure activities.
A painting depicting citizens debating politics in a public square would reflect the ideals of which artistic movement?
This would reflect Neoclassicism, which expressed Enlightenment ideals of citizenship and political participation.
The increasing purchase of items like tea sets and upholstered furniture for domestic spaces was part of what 18th-century trend?
This was part of the consumer revolution, which was shaped by a new concern for privacy and encouraged the purchase of new goods for homes.
What major intellectual movement's ideals were expressed through Neoclassical art?
Neoclassical art expressed the new ideals of the Enlightenment, particularly those concerning citizenship and political participation.
What societal group's values were increasingly reflected in 18th-century art and literature?
The outlook and values of the growing commercial and bourgeois society were increasingly reflected in the arts and literature of the period.
What obstacle did the growing number of printed materials face from authorities?
Despite their increasing numbers and variety, printed materials often faced the obstacle of government censorship.
A large, dramatic painting in a royal palace glorifying the monarch's absolute power is an example of which artistic style?
This would be an example of Baroque art, which was employed by monarchs to illustrate state power.