Age Of Absolutism
It is important to understand
the roles of these monarchs
and how their actions led to the Enlightenment and Revolutions.
Absolute Monarchies
Absolute Monarch – a ruler with complete authority over the government and the lives of the people
In Europe almost all nations were ruled by absolute monarchs
Absolute Monarchies
Divine Right of Kings – the power of the kings comes from God
Therefore the kings laws are to be obeyed
The king-who was above the law, could rule any way he wished
Rise of Absolute Monarchs
decline of feudalism and growth of national kingdoms – centralize authoritygrowing middle class – loyal to monarchsincreasing wealth (thanks to the colonies – mercantilism)decrease of Church power (remember the Reformation?)Crises – religious, class, & territorial disputes – monarchs created order
Philip II – Spain
Absolute Monarch of Spain Wealthy empire – colonies Large standing army Catholic (Counter)-
Reformation leader Golden Age of Spanish Art
(Cervantes – Don Quixote) Fought religious wars w/
Protestants in Netherlands His Armada lost to
Elizabeth’s (England) navy
France – Louis XIV
The Sun King – he believed the destiny of France revolved around him - “I am the state”
Built Palace at Versailles
Elaborate – kept nobles there to keep an eye on them
Louis XIV
Able King France was the center of
culture Patron of the arts – art
glorified the king Wars left debt and many
poor
Religious and Political Causes – all countries involved at some point
Peace of Westphalia Germany damaged and
divided Rise of Austria – Maria
Theresa Prussia - Frederick the
Great – army, taxation
Thirty Years War
Russia – Peter the Great
Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)
Brought Western Eur. Culture to Russia
Took power from nobles – became absolute monarch
Westernization
Peter used W. Europe as a model for changereduced the power of boyars (nobles)European officers trained new military – tactics and weaponsimposed heavy taxes to pay for changesintroduced potatosstarted newspaper raised women's statusordered nobles to give traditional clothesnew capital: St. Petersburg - “window on the sea”
Elizabeth left no heir Stuart Dynasty English Civil War
•Cavaliers v. Roundheads•Charles I executed•Cromwell Rules - Puritan
Restoration – Charles II
England –Triumph of Parliament
Glorious Revolution
peaceful (bloodless) overthrow of James II by Parliamentreplaced by William and Mary (James' Protestant daughter) Bill of Rights – they must sign and share power with Parliamentno monarch could rule without consent of parliamentconstitutional monarchycabinet system develops – prime minister (continues today)
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