Absolutism in Europe

Europe

• Monarchs were strengthened through their colonies– Economic growth through mercantilism– Goal to become most wealthy nation– Competition among nations

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

Spain

• Once the most powerful nation in Europe– Phillip II (rule 1156-1598)

• Catholic, disliked Protestants– Spanish Inquisition, Reconquista

• Competition and conflict with England– Religious differences and British piracy

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

• Spain loses its place as the most powerful nation 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

England

• Cromwell defeats the kings forces– Monarchy abolished and England declared a

Republic– Eventually, Cromwell will establish a military

dictatorship

• 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

France

• Ruled by Bourbon Family

• Support Catholic Church– Short period of tolerance for Protestants

• Edict of Nantes

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 to monarchs:– Cardinal Richelieu: works to increase power of

monarch (advisor of Louis XIII)– Jean Baptiste Colbert: believed in mercantilism

(economic advisor of Louis XIV)

• France will wage many wars in attempts to increase her own power– Conflict with England

• War of Austrian Succession• Seven Years War

– Fought in Europe, Americas, India

German States

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

• 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

• Important Ruler:– Maria Theresa:

• Came to throne in 1740

German States

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

• Frederick William I increased the power of the Prussian military

• Frederick the Great made Prussia a great power

Russia

• 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