CH 13
Consolidation of European Powers
I. Introduction
1600’s-1700’s were a period of prosperity and decline
Most European countries expanded their power and influence
End of the period 5 countries came out on top Great Britain France Austria Prussia Russia
I. Introduction
Most of Europe followed two types of political organization
Netherlands, Swiss Cantons and Venice were republics Parliamentary Monarch
England Limited Monarch- King is head of state but limited
through a constitution Political Absolutism
France (King Louis XIV- “I am the state”) King or dictator has absolute power
Power of monarch cannot be checked
II. Netherlands
United Provinces of the Netherlands Revolted from Spain 1572 Were later able to hold their own in numerous naval
battles against other European naval powers Ruled by the House of Orange (William III of Orange
(1650-1702) Put fully in charge during times of war Times of peace- States General (Republic) ruled with
provinces maintaining autonomy
II. Netherlands
Economy Reclamation of land
Used for cash crops and cattle Imported grain
Textiles Herring Middlemen for trading Dutch East India Company
Became dominate in Indian trade Dominated spice trade (Until WWII)
II. Netherlands
Economy Early 1700s William III, stadtholder of Holland died
Provinces did not want a central authority Resulted in downfall of navy
• Resulted in decline of most sectors of the Netherland’s economy
Only saved economically by banks funding most of Europe’s trade
III. England
James I of England (r. 1603-1625) AKA James VI of Scotland Mary Stuart’s son
Took over England after Elizabeth I died Took over England when Parliament had to be
summoned by the king Avoided this through customs/ tariffs called impositions
On currants (berries usually dried) and tobacco Ruled by putting court favorites in charge
III. England
James I (continued) Quarreled with Puritans over the Anglican church Resulted in numerous Puritans leaving England
Plymouth Colony- Cape Cod Bay (1620 Puritans left England for the Americas Felt they could not gain religious freedom unless they
went to the Americas• Felt Reformation had stopped in England
III. England
Charles I (r. 1625-1649) Son of James I Renewed war with Spain
Used new taxes and fund it Forced royal loans Quartered troops in English homes Resulted in Petition of Right 1628
No taxation with out Parliament’s approval, no unjust imprisonment and no quartering troops in homes
Charles agreed to it but then dissolved parliament
III. England
Charles I (continued) Was accused of being to friendly with Catholics when
made peace with France (1629) and Spain (1630) More for financial reasons
Had to reconvene parliament for to fund a war against Scotland (over religion) Short Parliament (April-May 1640)
III. England
Charles I and the Long Parliament(1640-1660) Parliament forced Charles to follow their rules
Only Parliament approved taxes Parliament must meet no less than every 3 years Parliament can only be dissolved with its approval
Radical members in parliament said Charles could not be trusted with army Charles invades Parliament Militia Ordinance- Parliament can raise its own army
Civil War between Cavaliers (Charles I) vs. Roundheads (Parliament) (1642-1646)
III. England
The End of Charles I Charles lost the war
Tried to subvert power from Parliament and tried to raise a new army
Oliver Cromwell and Parliament created an act allowing a king to be tried by Parliament Charles was then behead on January 30, 1649 The monarch, House of Lords and the Anglican Church
was abolished Only the House of Commons was left
Ruled by Oliver Cromwell• Became a military dictator- Very strict government
III. England
Charles II (r.1660-1685) Son of Charles I
Fled to France as a teen, with mother, during civil war Came back to England in 1660 after Oliver Cromwell’s
death Was a Catholic in secret and allied himself with Louis
XIV Considered untrustworthy by parliament
Able to rule without parliament for the last few years of his rule Used custom duties to fund his rule
III. England
Glorious Revolution James II (1685-1688) takes over after his father’s
death Put a number of Catholic’s in office and dissolved
Parliament Everyone waited for him to die so Mary II could take
over He had a son which ruined their plan Invited William of Orange to take over England
James flees and William is unopposed William of Orange (III) and Mary II took over only
after signing the English Bill of Rights Also limited Catholics (can’t be kind)
III. England
George I (1714-1727) Took over after William III as a result of the Act of Settlement
Throne given to House of Hanover (Germany)in event of no heirs Throne was contested by James Edward Stuart
Defeated Rule was weak until Sir Robert Walpole came into the picture
Became Premier under George I (acted as a Prime-Minister) Brought stability and “ran Parliament”
During this time both the king and other government officials were accountable to public opinion Were openly opposed and questioned Free Speech
IV. France
Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715) Was able to take total control due to Cardinal
Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin who helped centralize France’s government Helped revoke the Edict of Nantes Overstepping power resulted in nobles rebelling in the
Fronde (1649-1652) Forced to subvert power less openly
• Was manipulative Put people of no personal power in charge Kept political institutions and “consulted” with them
IV. France
Louis XIV (continued) Made everything extravagant
Had Versailles built (1676-1708) Temple to Royalty or the Sun King
Nobles lives revolved around Louis and his life at court Had to pay to stay there
Ruled by “divine right” Only God could judge the king “I am the state”
Allowed local rule but could not contradict his rule
IV. France
France under Louis Was superior in comparison to other European nations
Larger population Elaborate Bureaucracy Very unified (propaganda) Massive standing army
Better weapons Sought to “strengthen” (expand) borders in along the north Was repressive in regards to religion
Jansenist (Strict Catholics that opposed Jesuits- Man is corrupt and can do no good) Strictly persecuted which went against Gallican Liberties
• Turned some of the government against he monarch
IV. France
After Louis XIV Louis XV was a weak ruler
Allowed the Parlements to gain more power Later resisted the authority of the king
Lost many battles Rule was plagued with a number of scandals Suffered a economic decline
V. The Others
Poland Ruled by a king- elected by the nobles
Never picked from the nobility- usually from other countries King John Sobieski III- exception
Legislative body known as Seim/Diet Required unanimous agreement or resulted in
Exploding the diet Eventually gets divided up amongst Russia, Poland
and Turkey
V. The Others
Austria Ruled by the Hapsburgs
Isolated after 30 Years’ War Continued to be called the HRE
Power was political and based on support from princes Expanded eastward
Leopold I gained Hungary from the Ottoman Turks
V. The Others
Prussia Gained prominence after the Treaty of Westphalia
Hohenzollerns gained territory by inheritance Originally ruled Brandenburg (Territory surrounding
Berlin) Eventually expanded through military force
Became very militaristic under Frederick William I Did not use military for defensive purposes
Frederick II (The Great) used it to expand his territory
V. The Others
Russia Was originally the laughing stock of Europe Romanov Dynasty
Started under Michael Romanov (r. 1613-1645)- elected as Tsar
Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) Sought to increase the power of tsar and the military
• Brutally suppressed any rebellionsAgainst Boyars (nobles) and Streltsy (military of the
nobles)Or his son Aleksei
V. The Others
Russia Continued Peter the Great
Europeanized Russia Culture and military
• Built a stronger navy Great Northern War
Fought with Sweden to gain a warm water port on the Black Sea
Gained territory in Estonia, Livonia and Finland Placed the Orthodox Church under control of the Tsar
V. The Others
The Ottoman Turks Dominant Muslim power from 1516 on
Controlled a huge expanse of terrritory Ruled by Sultans
Divided government into Millets (religious government communities
Ulama (Relgious Scholars) interpreted Shari’a law Janissaries- Slave soldiers who were trained to use firearms
Very loyal Power declined
Dutch and Portuguese infringed on Trade Sultans became pleasure seeking and allowed Viziers to rule Eventually became the sick man of Europe- kept to balance
power