Absolutism, Exploration and

Their Consequences

The Influence Behind Absolutism

• Niccolo Machiavelli•Wrote “The Prince” for Lorenzo di Medici –Better Feared than loved guy…–ABSOLUTE POWER good for the leader & country. Every leader wants to dominate!!!

CASE STUDY # 1 - The Hapsburgs• Catholic Family • Holy Roman

Emperors–Led ¼ of Europe through war, marriage or diplomacy!!!–They are why the German princes led the Reformation

CASE STUDY # 2 - Louis XIV’s France• A Noble uprising Turned

him into an Absolutist–Built Versailles – a gilded

prison•Nobles untaxed in return…

• French army envy of Europe–Countered the Catholic

Hapsburg Monarchs–The “Sun King”

Versailles

CASE STUDY # 3Peter the Great – Russia

• By force of own will modernized Russia, built St. Petersburg

A Notable ExceptionENGLAND• Uprising by nobles

forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 AD.

• Ensured that UK would never sustain absolutism–Parliament dominates

Prince Henry the Navigator

• 1st Monarch to back Exploration

• WHY? The 3 G’s & cutting out Muslims in the spice trade

• New Technologies Help Out– Triangle sails, compass,

Hourglass, astrolabe, cartography

Explorer Review

Treaty of Tordesillas averts war between VESPUCCIA? Spain and Portugal in the New World

A Revolution in Trade:The Columbian Exchange

TO EUROPE

TO THE NEW

WORLD

The Commercial Revolution• Mercantilism–Business meant to

Benefit and be guided by the nation.–Colonies needed for

markets• Massive Inflation in

Europe (Petosi Mines) leads to the Origins of Capitalism– Joint-Stock Companies