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)