Absolute Monarchs

Chap 16Phillip II

Louis XIV

Peter the Great

What is absolutism?

• Textbook definition:– “When a ruler has complete authority over the

government and the lives of the people”

• What’s so new about this?– Degree of power– Depth & scope of powers claimed

Hallmarks of absolutism• Divine right claims

– “The king is king because God made him king”

– “I answer to God alone”

• Attempts to control all in realm– Religious groups, nobles, local govts.

– Through favors or suppression

– A heavy-handed approach to creating unity

Yes, I know - this guy gets annoying after a while.

Hallmarks of absolutism

• Control over financial machinery– King controls the money– No longer has to ask nobles for money– Raise $ through Taxes, customs duties (tariffs),

& other financial schemes– System of tax collectors whose job is to go

around and collect money

Hallmarks of absolutism

• Massive bureaucracies– True civil servants

– Paid by state, represented the king

– Men owed their wealth & position to employment

• Thus usually loyal & grateful to king

Hallmarks of absolutism

• Standing armies– The medieval system abandoned

• Feudal obligation of 40 days’ service thrown out

– Why standing (full time) armies were needed?– The benefits of standing armies?– The burden of standing armies?

• Do the math: How much does it cost to feed an army of 200,000 men every day, 3 times a day.

– (Use the Denny’s Menu as a guide for prices)

L’etat, c’est moi!!

Louis “the Sun King” XIV

That’s “I AM the

state” to you silly Americans

Kill those darn

Huguenots

Increase the Army!!

Invade Germany!!!

I want to be king of

Spain too!

Louis “the Sun King” XIV

Build me a palace!!!

Fight the English!!

Fight the Dutch!!

Fight the Swedes!!!

What do you mean we’re

out of money!!??

                                             

       

The Story of the Revolt of the Titans

• Giants revolt• Zeus crushes the revolt• King of the giants is

buried under pile of rocks

Don’t mess Don’t mess with the big with the big

boysboys

What dear?

Honey, let’s make this the kid’s wing

Umm, I think I’m lost

The back yard

This can all be yours for a measly

$4,000,000,000

France Under Louis XIV• King is glorified as all powerful

– “Divine Right”– Nobles stripped of power– Versailles built

• Many wars– War of Spanish Succession.

• Everyone gangs up on France• Treaty of Utrecht - Spain and France can never be unified

• Promotes economy through mercantilism and heavy taxes– Note: Nobles do not pay taxes

Why?

Louis XIV

palaceRuledwhere

whenwhy

What went On there

symbols

Believedin

Mea

ning

?

economics

who

what

religion

militaryChange to

army

campaigns

Louis XIV’s WarsW

hy?

result

Why

?

result

results

Peter the GreatCzar of Russia

Romanov Family

Knock off the Tall jokes.

“Civilized,” “Highly Cultured”“Gentlemanly” Europe

“Backwards” “Peasant”

Europe(2nd Class)

HA HA HA!Look at the BackwoodsHillbillies Who live Here!!!

HA HA HA!

How Europeans Viewed Things

Russia:PoorGeographically IsolatedDominated by noblesMedieval / Feudal

Many serfsChurch has great influence

What does it take to get a little respect around here?

I’ve got to get

Westernized

Maybe a new capital would help

And a big army! - and

navy.

Hey you!Shave off

that beard!!

Better get hold of these rotten nobles

Peter the Grrrrreeeaaaatttt

Hey Ottomans,I want access to

the ocean.

Keep Dreaming!You will never get a

warm water port!

Peter’s “Window On The West”

Saint Petersburg:The Most “European” of all Russian cities

Russia’s Geographical Problems?Misc. NotesPeter the Man

Days as a sailorTraveling Europe

Read between the lines. What kind of a man was he?

How he died

Peter the Great

Ruledwhere

when

problems

geog

built

why

desires

How he fulfilled them?

Granted nobles large

estates w/ many serfs results