Absolutism
Global I: Spiconardi
Absolutism
Absolutism When a king or queen who has unlimited power/centralized control of the government and seeks to control all aspects of society
Divine Right theory that rulers power comes directly from God and the ruler is only responsible to God
Queen Elizabeth (Reign 1558 – 1603) Daughter of Henry VIII Battle w/Parliament
over finances; economy suffers under her reign
Protestant Made strict rules
against Catholics, but didn’t enforce them
Never married/No heirs (“Virgin Queen”)
Supported the arts; arts flourish under her reign (Shakespeare)
Philip II of Spain (Reign 1556 – 1598)
Devout Catholic Drove Muslim Moors
& Jews out of Spain Tortured, killed or
exiled thousands of Protestants
Attempted to aid a Catholic in regaining the throne of France
Philip II of Spain
The Spanish Armada In attempt to re-Catholicize England, he
attacked England with 130 ships & 19,000 soldiers.
Spain loses in shocking defeat Wars and Inquisition cost Spain tons of
money Left Spain bankrupt
Peter the Great of Russia (Reign 1682 – 1725) Westernize and Modernize
Peter believed Russia was years behind the rest of Europe
Invited European engineers, architects, artists, merchants, shipbuilders, and craftsmen to Russia in order to catch the country up to the rest of EuropeWhy was Russia behind the Why was Russia behind the
rest of Europe?rest of Europe?
Peter the Great
Reforms Changed Russian calendar
to coincide with rest of Europe
All noble children (ages 10-15) had to be taught geometry and mathematics
Outlawed beards unless you paid a special tax
Created poll tax to build up manufacturing
Organized a Russian army and built a navy
Louis XIV of France (Reign 1643 – 1715) Known as the “Sun
King” Never dressed
himself Gave nobles the
“privilege” and “honor” of dressing him
Built Palace of Versailles Palace may have cost
over US$2 billion
Louis XIV
A portrait of Louis XIV A portrait of Louis XIV depicting him as the god depicting him as the god
Apollo.Apollo.
•Louis XIV revoked France’s policy of religious tolerance
•A Protestant sect, Huguenots, were intimated and many fled France
•Used the military to bully the Huguenots
•Despite this, Louis wanted to be referred to as, “His most Christian Majesty”
Versailles
Versailles
The Hall of The Hall of MirrorsMirrors
Versailles
Queen’s Queen’s BedroomBedroom
Versailles
King’s King’s BedroomBedroom
AssessmentAssessment
What are some of the commonalities What are some of the commonalities among many of the European absolute among many of the European absolute monarchs of the 17monarchs of the 17thth and 18 and 18thth century century Europe?Europe?
Absolutism
Causes Decline of feudalism
Kings consolidate fiefs Reformation & loss of Church’s authority
Kings no longer have to answer to the Pope Growth of national kingdoms
City-states and territories become countries
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