THE AGE OF ABSOLUTISM

1550-1800

Focusing Points Political and Social Systems:

What changed and who benefited from this change?

How is the past similar to the present? Economic Systems:

How did change in economic policy affect monarchies?

The Spanish monarchies

Spanish Power Charles V

Grandson of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella inherited a large empire*○ Spain○ Holy Roman Empire○ Netherlands○ Austrian Hapsburgs

Spanish Power Charles V’s

Challenges*Fought to suppress

the Protestant Reformation

Ottoman Empire○ Controlled much of

Hungary and increased their strong naval power, thus challenging the Spanish for control of the Mediterranean

Empire Divided 1556*

Charles gives up his empire to his brother Ferdinand and son Philip

Ferdinand received Hapsburg and became the Holy Roman Emperor

Philip received Spain and Netherlands as well as all lands overseas

Philip II Philip II as a King

Goals: expand Spanish influence, strengthen Catholic Church, and make his power absolute.○ Devoted ruler; signed every government document○ Was not one to seek out entertainment○ Ruled by divine right○ Devote Catholic and enforced unity through

religion (Expelled Muslims and Jews from Spain)○ Used the Inquisition to push out Protestants○ Desperately wanted to expand Spanish Catholic

power

Do I look like I am someone who

ever has any fun? I desire absolute

control!

Philip II and his Desire for Control Netherlands

Attempted to end Protestant faith

Uprisings and fighting lasted for decades

Invading England 1580 Philip sees Queen

Elizabeth I as his main Protestant rival

Creates armada 1588:

○ 130 ships○ 20,000 men○ 2,400 pieces of artillery

Armada defeated

France and Louis xiv

Bourbon Kings King Henry IV

1589 inherited the throne as a Protestant PriestConverted to Catholicism

○ Created the Edicts of Nantes 1598 (Created to protect Protestants)

○ Granted Huguenots religious protectionRebuilt France by creating a bureaucracy

responsible to him and taking power away from nobles ○ Set the stage for a strong monarchy

Bourbon Kings Louis XIV

1643 inherited the throne at age 5 France turned to chaos

Powerful Ruler Divine Right Never called meeting of Estates General (Representatives of the

clergy, nobles, and everyone else) Expanded bureaucracy Appointed intendants (People who collected taxes & carried

out policies of the king) Created large royal army

Jean Baptiste Colbert (Finance Minister) Emphasized mercantilism Grew to be wealthiest state in Europe

Bourbon Kings Downfall of Louis XIV

Palace of Versailles○ Housed 10,00 people○ No expense spared○ Had nobility attend his every move

Nobles didn’t pay taxesUnsuccessful Wars

○ Power checked by Dutch and English○ 1700 grandson Philip V and Spain go to war with

England and France joins alliance with SpainPersecution of Huguenots (Protestants)

○ 100,000 fled France

This dude had nobles cater to his

every need! Nobles participated in a

ritual called levee. Nobles would hold

the royal wash basin while Louis

cleaned his face. It is also reported that

he wore diamond buckled shoes!

Bling for the feet!

Click on my picture

to read about my

daily routine.