1 of 20

AGE OF ABSOLUTISM

2 of 20

What is the Age of Absolutism??

A time when:

-Kings in Europe maintained strong monarchies, built large militaries, and taxed the people

-During the 1500s-1800s

3 of 20

What is an ABSOLUTE MONARCH?

Absolute monarchy-a king who has all the power in their government

4 of 20

Why did this happen?

Remember Feudalism during the Middle Ages? That wasn’t working anymore

Power was based on LAND

5 of 20

Why did this happen?

1. Decline of Feudalism-king had to deal with religious and territorial conflicts, so he needed money $$$$

Middle Class were getting richer due to more trading->gave $$ to kings

Power based on MONEY, not land (Feudalism no more)

6 of 20

Why did this happen?

2. Divine Right-king’s believed that they had the authority to rule from God

3. Centralized Government-everything was now being controlled by the government, not locally

7 of 20

Philip II

-Czar Ivan IV

-Czar Peter the Great

Frederick II (the Great)

King Louis XIV

King:

-Charles I

-Charles II

-James II

-William and Mary

8 of 20

King Louis XIV of France

-Took throne at age 4

-The “Sun King

-->Claimed Divine Right

-->Believed he was the State

(L’état, c’est moi-“I am the State” ...everything revolved around him in France, just like the planets revolve around the sun)

-Had nobles live in the Palace of Versailles with him so he can monitor them and their actions

9 of 20

King Louis XIV of France

POSITIVE

  • he tried to make France more powerful.
  • he centralized the French government.
  • he improved French militarily.
  • he made France a commercial (business) rival of Britain.
  • he tamed the French aristocracy (nobility).
  • he made the King and the State one and the same.

NEGATIVE

  • he taxed the peasants, not the nobility.
  • he was too extravagant (he put France into great debt).
  • the court at Versailles was too far from the lives and problems of the common people in Paris.

10 of 20

King Philip II of Spain

-Controlled all aspects of government

-Ruled by Divine Right

-High cost of wars

-Levied (put on) heavy taxes

11 of 20

Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia

12 of 20

Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia

-Great military strategist, father of Prussian militarism

-Gained land for Prussia against Austria in the Austrian War of Succession

-Reforms:

banned torture, freedom of press, religious freedom

-introduced turnip and potato crop

13 of 20

Czar Ivan IV (the Terrible)

14 of 20

Czar Ivan IV (the Terrible)

Pros:

-Modernized Russia

-Reformed the legal code

-created an assembly of the three estates (council of nobles)

-Established a standing army

-Opened new trade routes

-Ordered the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral to commemorate his conquest of the Kazan

Cons:

-Extremist, harsh ruling style

-Secret police (Oprichniki) killed anyone thought to be disloyal

-killed own son

15 of 20

Czar Peter the Great

Cutting off boyar’s (noble) beard to look more Western

16 of 20

Czar Peter the Great

Pros:

-Simplified Russian alphabet

-Developed mining and textiles

-Westernized Russia

-Created organized, single military, navy

-Wanted warm water port in order to trade more

Cons:

-Didn’t create big middle class

-Sometimes used force and terror to achieve goals

17 of 20

Why did absolutism NOT work in England?

-had tradition of limiting the monarchy

(Magna Carta-1215)

-Parliament (body of gov’t that makes laws) was tired of getting dissolved when King didn’t get his way

-King Charles I triggered Civil War where he was captured and beheaded by Parliament

-Oliver Cromwell took control and ruled England under heavy Puritan beliefs

(England has no king for 10 years)

King Charles I, you cannot just dissolve us, Parliament, whenever you feel like it!

18 of 20

Why did absolutism NOT work in England?

Restoration-England gets their king back, but King Charles II still believed in absolute control (but knew not to mess with Parliament!!)

-King James II ruled harshly on Protestants (which most in Parliament were)

-Parliament invite William and Mary to take throne = GLORIOUS REVOLUTION (becoming king and queen without bloodshed)

19 of 20

Why did absolutism NOT work in England?

In order to rule, Parliament makes William and Mary sign the English Bill of Rights:

***Limited Monarchy-constitution limits king’s power

-Makes Parliament have power over monarchy

-Habeas Corpus (no person in prison without getting charged for a crime)

Toleration Acts-religious freedom

20 of 20

What does this all mean?

During the 1500s-1800s, the monarchs of Europe ruled with complete power

Successfully gained wealth and power of state for themselves

Used power to make country stronger, modernized, increasing trade, and tried to improve social conditions