Absolutism in Europe

Europe

• Monarchs (kings/queens) were strengthened through their colonies– Economic growth through mercantilism

(exploitation of colonies for economic benefit of mother country)

– Competition among nations to become the most wealthy and most powerful

Absolute Rule and Divine Right

• Rulers believed they were chosen by god to rule– Known as Divine RightDivine Right

• Also believed that they should have absolute power without limit– Known as AbsolutismAbsolutism

Absolutism v. Constitutionalism

• Most European nations developed absolute monarchies in the 1600-1700’s.

• Exceptions:– England and the Dutch Netherlands preferred

a more constitutional government in which the ruler’s power was limited

Spain

• Once the most powerful nation in Europe– Phillip II (rule 1556-1598)

• Catholic, strict control prohibited the spread of Protestantism– Spanish Inquisition, Reconquista

• Competition and conflict with England– Religious differences (Spain Catholic, England Protestant)

– British piracy (Elizabeth I and her “sea dogs”)

• 1588- sends he Spanish Armada to invade England– Fails

Spain

• Spanish economy weak– Royal debt– Excessive spending on military – Excessive spending to maintain colonial empire– Price Revolution (influx of silver from colonies

leads to inflation)– High taxation

• Eventually, Spain would lose its place as the dominant power in Europe

England

• English monarchs share power with Parliament– Some try to take power from Parliament

• Tudor Dynasty:– Important rulers:

• Henry VIII (starts Anglican Church)• Elizabeth I

– Highly educated, not married, Europe flourishes under her reign, sponsored piracy against Spanish fleets

England

• Tudor Dynasty ends with Elizabeth– She died without an heir

• King of Scotland becomes new English monarch– James I

• Founder of Stuart Dynasty• Believed in Divine Right and wanted absolute

power

England

• England begins period of conflict– Religious and political

• James I and his successor, Charles I abuse their power

• English Civil War:– Supporters of king fight with supporters of

Parliament• Parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell

English Civil War

England

• Cromwell defeats the kings forces– Charles I executed, monarchy abolished, and

England declared a Republic– Eventually, Cromwell will establish a military

dictatorship• Known as the Puritan Republic or Commonwealth of

England…both are quite misleading names!

• 1658: Cromwell dies and monarchy eventually restored– Trouble will soon begin again

England

• James II became king in 1685– Openly Catholic, has son who will carry on the

Catholic rule

• 1688: Glorious Revolution– Nobles invite William and Mary to take throne

• Mary was James II’s daughter (Protestant)• James and his family flee to France

• 1689: William and Mary sign the English Bill of Rights– Limit power of monarchs and give political power to

Parliament

William and Mary

France

• Ruled by Bourbon Family

• Support Catholic Church– Short period of tolerance for Protestants

• Edict of Nantes (King Henry IV, 1598)

On the Road to Absolutism

• Louis XIII (r. 1610-1643) and his advisor, Cardinal Richelieu, work to increase power of monarch– Established administrative districts with

appointed officials who answer to the king– Sold titles of nobility (Nobles of the Robe) to

raise money for crown and increase loyalty

• Louis’ son (Louis XIV) would take this centralization of power to a new level!

France

• Louis XIV– Became king in 1643

at age 5• Rules for 72 years

– “Sun King”– Absolute ruler, Divine

Right– Palace of Versailles

France

• Important advisors:– Cardinal Mazarin…until he gets fed up with Mazarin

and begins to make all decisions on his own• The Fronde (revolt among the nobility)

– Jean Baptiste Colbert: believed in mercantilism (economic advisor of Louis XIV)

• Encouraged Louis to continue to pursue an empire

– Jacques Bossuet: Louis’ bishop and tutor; huge supporter of Divine Right

– Moliere: playwright hired to entertain guests at Versailles

France

• France waged many wars over the 17th and 18th centuries in attempts to increase her own power– Conflict with England

• Seven Years War (Fought in Europe, Americas, India)– War of Spanish Succession– War of Austrian Succession

• France’s economy fell under a heavy burden due to excessive spending and poor tax policy…..all causes of the French Revolution!

German States

• Germany not a united country until late-1800’s– Broken into small states– Part of the Holy Roman Empire

• Established in 800’s

• Austria and Prussia two most important German states– Austria ruled by Hapsburgs– Prussia ruled by Hohenzollerns

German States

• Austrian rulers often also served as Emperors of Holy Roman Empire

• Hapsburg family extremely powerful up until the 1800’s!– Huge rivals of the Bourbon Dynasty in France

• Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)

German States

• Prussia was a very militaristic German state– Ran by the Hohenzollern family

• Prussia’s power would grow dramatically in the 1700’s and 1800’s.– Eventually, Prussia will become the

foundation of Germany ….more on this later!!!

Russia

• ***SEE ADDITIONAL PPT (Russia in the Early Modern Period) FOR MORE INFO!!!***

• Largely isolated from rest of Europe• Economy underdeveloped due to Mongols• Mongols overthrown by Moscow

– Ivan III (Ivan the Great)

• Bloody history– Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)

Russia

• Romanov Dynasty began in 1613

• Important Rulers:– Peter I (Peter the Great)

• Rules from 1689-1725• Wanted to Westernize Russia• Made important changes to modernize Russia• New capital at St. Petersburg• War with Sweden for access to Baltic Sea

Russia

• Catherine the Great– German Princess who seizes throne from her

husband Peter III– Also wanted to modernize and westernize

Russia

• Although making improvements, Russian peasants had very harsh lives– Serfdom very much like slavery in Russia