AGE OF ABSOLUTISM

WHO ARE ABSOLUTE MONARCHS?

kings/queens believe everything in their territory is their property

Answer only to God, not his/her subjects

WHAT IS DIVINE RIGHT?

DIVINE RIGHT: belief God created monarchy & they act as God’s representatives on earth

REASONS FOR ABSOLUTE MONARCHS, PART I

INCREASE OF MIDDLE CLASS, DECLINE OF FEUDALISM, RISE OF CITIES

17th C. period of huge upheaval in Europe monarchs impose order by increasing own power

Created new gov. bureaucracies to control economic life GOAL: be free from limitations set by nobility & Parliament; therefore rule absolutely

REASONS FOR ABSOLUTE MONARCHS, PART II

1562–1598

Huguenots & Catholics fought 8 religious wars

Chaos in France leads to opening for strong leaders to take over

PRINCE HENRY OF NAVARRE (THE IV)

Inherits throne of France1st king of Bourbon Dynasty

Gave up Protestantism & became Catholic

Declared Huguenots could live in peace in France & set up houses of worship

Declaration of religious tolerance: EDICT OF NANTES

Devotes reign to restoring France’s prosperity

SKEPTICISM

idea that nothing can be known

for certain

France’s restored power leads to this intellectual movement (for French thinkers)

INTELLECTUAL MOVEMENT IN SPAIN

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ—paintings showed pride of Spain’s monarchy; rich colors

DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA: 1605, called birth of modern European novel—by Miguel Cervantes

about poor Spanish nobleman who goes crazy from reading too many books on heroic knights

set out to “right every manner of wrong”

ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE: LOUIS XIV

Most powerful ruler in French history

Weakens nobility power; excluded from councils

Increases power of INTENDANTS: gov’t agents that collect taxes & administer justice

Spent fortune on luxurious items (meals & residence)

CHATEAU (Palace) DE VERSAILLES weakens France

500 yards long; big statue of himself in courtyard

Center of arts during reign; now purpose of art is to glorify the king & promote values supporting Louis’s absolute rule Attempt to expand boundaries by invading Spanish

Netherlands gained 12 towns

LOUIS XIV’S LEGACY

1700, Louis’s grandson, Philip of Anjou, promised throne of Spain after Charles II’s death (no heir)

2 greatest powers in Europe now both ruled by Bourbon Family

Countries felt threatened & joined together to fight France & Spain War of Spanish Succession

Louis dies 1715--left a mixed legacy to his country

THIRTY YEARS’ WAR 1618 – 1648: Each religion in central Europe

trying to gain followers; leads to war

2 phases: Hapsburg Triumphs: armies from Austria &

Spain crush troops sent by Protestant princes; defeat German Protestants; put down Czech uprisings

Hapsburg Defeats: Protestants eventually drove Haps out of N. Germany

PEACE OF WESTPHALIA

Ends war in 1648, consequences:1) Weakened Hapsburg sts. Of Spain & Austria2) Strengthens France – gives it German territories3) Made German princes independent of Holy Roman Emperor4) Ended religious wars in Europe5) Introduced new method of peace negotiation6) Most important: abandoned idea of Catholic empire in Europe & recognized Europe as group of independent states now equal to others

ABSOLUTE RULERS IN GERMANY

1. Hapsburgs of Austria (Holy Roman Empire) King Charles VI

2. Hohenzollerns of Prussia – enemies of Hapsburgs King Fredrick William

FREDERICK WILLIAM II (THE GREAT)

MARIA THERESA

Leader of Prussia Followed father’s strict

military rule, but softened laws

Wanted Austrian lands bordering Prussia; invades & begins War of Austrian Succession WON

1756, attacked Saxony & all European allies get involved in war

Ruler of Austria Lost war to Frederick Tried to save face

SEVEN YEARS WAR, 1756-1763

Didn’t change territories in Europe, but Britain on top France lost colonies in N. America & gains sole domination of India

ABSOLUTE RULERS IN RUSSIA: IVAN IV

IVAN IV (THE TERRIBLE) crowned himself czar of Russia had a “good period” and “bad period”

His Time of Troubles led Russian government to choose new line of rulers: Romanov Dynasty

PETER I (THE GREAT), PART I

Believed Russia’s future depends on warm-water port then could compete w/western Europe

Goal of westernization: using Europe as model for change & make Russia stronger

Russian Orthodox Church under state control

Reduced power of landowners (like Ivan IV)

Heavy taxes to pay for army of 200,000

PETER I (THE GREAT), PART II

Introduced potatoes as new staple food

1st newspaper

Women’s status increases b/c have to attend social gatherings

Nobles give up traditional clothes for western fashions

Education key to progress

Russia becoming powerful by his death in 1725