Absolute Monarchs 1600 1800 What is an absolute

Absolute Monarchs 1600 -1800

What is an absolute monarch? King or Queen that has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society.

What is Divine Right • God gives the monarchy power. • Mandate of Heaven in China • Kings and Queens only answer to God. • King James I of England: “The King is from God and the law is from the king. ”

Why did the monarchs grow increasing strong during this period? • Decline of feudalism • Decline of the power of the Catholic Church. • Rise in trade and expansion of the middle class. • Middle class supported the monarchs because the monarchs provided protection for trade.

Economic System: Mercantilism • wealth measure by the amount of gold and silver in the treasury • Favorable balance of trade • Export more than you import • tariffs (taxes) on foreign goods to protect domestic industries.

MAIN ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITIES • • • Make Laws Dispense Justice Levy Taxes Choose State and Local Officials Conduct Foreign Policy Affairs Include the General Will of the People in decision making

STRENGTHS of ABSOLUTISM • Creation of a Strong Central Government • Nationalism Increases • Wealth and Growth of Middle Class is supported • Military Spending increases = Stronger Armies • Quicker Decision Making • Usually has support of the Church

WEAKNESSES OF ABSOLUTISM • State of the Union depends on One Individual • Power of the Lower Classes typically dwindles • Countless number of Wars • Higher taxes and lavish spending • National Welfare vs. Individual Welfare • Democracy?

Philip II of Spain • Defender of Catholicism against the Protestant Reformation • Ruled during the Golden Age of Art in Spain • Height of Spanish rule in the Americas

Phillip II Spain ruled by the Hapsburgs Phillip II ruled from 1556 – 1598 and was the most powerful monarch in Spanish history Tried to end Protestantism in his domains Involved Spain in a number of European wars to increase his family’s power

Golden Age of Art in Spain • 1550 -1650 “Siglo de Oro” (golden century) • El Greco produces religious pictures and portraits of Spanish nobles. • Velazquez paints Spanish royalty • Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote • Lope de Vega famous writer

Religion in Spain Loyalty of minority religious groups in question. (Protestants, Marranos (Jews Christianity) and Moriscos (Muslim Christianity)) Phillip supported the Inquisition’s efforts to uproot heretics Protestantism never took hold in Spain – Revolts but were put down 1567: Philip sought to impose Catholicism on the Netherlands. Dutch Protestants rebelled and declared their independence. England supported the Dutch in this war. Defeated the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Spain vs. England To solve problem with the Netherlands, had to go after England first May 30, 1588 – 130 ships and 33, 000 men sailed for England in an armada (a fleet of warships organized to carry out a mission) English had faster, more maneuverable ships, but could not at first block the Spanish formation. English ships fire separated the Spanish ships. Shortage of ammo and water forced the Spanish fleet to retreat ***Defeat of Spanish armada = the beginning of Spain’s decline as a European power!***

Decline of the Spanish Empire • Costly wars • Gold and Silver from the Americas leads to inflation • Loss of Muslims and Jews meant fewer artisans and merchants • Ignored agriculture • Phillip’s successors were poor leaders.

France The King is Not a Private Person. He belongs to the Public. The Will of the People is included in his Will. --Jean Bossuet--

Louis XIV Became king at age 5. Started running the government at 23. Most powerful Bourbon monarch – reigned for 72 years. “Sun King” – lavish court. Pomp and pageantry. Emphasized a strong monarchy because he feared disorder without it.

The Sun King • Takes the symbol of the Sun as his royal crest. • “L’etat, c’est moi”, “I am the State”

Political Policies of Louis XIV 1. Appointed Intendents, royal officials to collect taxes, recruit soldiers and carry out policy. 2. Revoked the Edict of Nantes persecuted the Huguenots 3. No meeting of Estates General 4. Built strong French Army 5. Fought many wars 6. Made France the leading power in Europe 7. Weakened the power of the nobles

Economic Policies of Louis XIV 1. Followed mercantilism 2. High tariffs 3. Taxed the peasants and not the nobles and clergy. 4. Cleared lands for farming 5. Encouraged mining and other industries 6. Spend large sums of money on Wars 7. Built Versailles 8. Persecuted the Huguenots

Social Policies of Louis XIV 1. 2. 3. 4. Persecuted the Huguenots Built Versailles a symbol of power Patronized the arts France became the center of arts for Europe

Effects of Louis XIV’s Reign • Left France a powerful nation state with great cultural influence. • Social unrest • Starving peasants • Weakened the economy: spent too money on costly wars and Versailles

Russia’s on the Rise 1200 s – 1700 s: Russia isolated from western European developments (Crusades, Renaissance, Reformation) Developed based on Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Empire Powerful monarchy – crushed opponents Nobility, church, towns never rose against power Ivan the Terrible

Byzantine Empire • 700 s and 800 s • Greatest effect on the Russian Empire • Russian’s borrowed – Type of government (czar) – Religion – Art and architecture (Hagia Sophia) – Language Cyrillic Alphabet

Ivan the Terrible Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, ruled from 1533 -1584 Took many steps against the boyars (nobles) to reduce their potential threat to the throne Seized their land, and displaced the people

Ivan the Terrible Put own loyal people on these lands, who then terrorized the rest of the country Arrested, exiled and executed many of his closest advisors. Even boiled people! In a fit of rage even killed own son.

Peter the Great 1689 – Peter I ascended throne (fun fact: he was 7 ft tall!) Went on 18 month tour of Europe – returned and forced nobles to adopt the ways of Western Europe. i. e. Western clothing, no beards, women ordered to attend parties Sent Russians abroad to study shipbuilding, naval warfare, mathematics and languages Created new capital of Russia, St Petersburg. Russia’s “window to the West”

Political Policies Period of Westernization and Modernization Total Control Borrowed ideas from France. Central bureaucracy with local governments Brought Church under his control and created Holy Synod (a council of bishops) New class of nobles. Allowed to own land in return for service Nobles had full control of serfs

Foreign Policy Goal to make Russia a European power Expanded boundaries in south, east and northwest Forced China to recognize claims to Siberia At war with Poland, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire for most of his reign. Wanted a warm water port on the Black Sea and control of the Baltic coastline Modernize navy and army 1721 – defeated Sweden and won control of the eastern end of the Baltic region

Economic Policies Hired western experts to teach and help build factories, roads, ports, ships. Government had total control over the economy No taxes for nobles. Tax burden on the poorest classes. Agriculture and craft production under strict government control. Gave incentives to increase production.

Social Policies • • Nobles forced to cut beards Women ordered to attend parties Dress like the French/western clothing Build schools Sent Russians to study in Western Europe 1 st newspaper Introduced potatoes

Legacy of Peter the Great Strengthened Russia’s role in foreign affairs Brought Russia into the mainstream of western European culture Broke traditional Eastern Orthodox culture that united the people Split between those who accepted European ways and those who favored tradition Incomplete and hasty reforms

Catherine the Great 1762 seized the throne from her weak husband ruled as empress until 1796. A German princess, but she adopted Russian ways and earned respect of her people Believed all people born equal

Catherine the Great Wanted to free serfs, but a peasant rebellion changed her mind Released nobles from governmental service Allowed nobles to treat peasants how they wanted More peasants forced into serfdom than ever before and conditions worsened. Common people had fewer rights than any other place in Europe Catherine brutally squashed any uprisings

“Great” Foreign Policy Reason why she has her nickname Significantly expanded borders and achieved goal of warm water port Defeated Ottoman Turks Acquired territory from Poland Expanded West and South

Parliament Triumphs in England q 1215 King John forced to sign the Magna Carta. Limits his power q From 1485 to 1603 the Tudor dynasty worked with Parliament. q 1603 Queen Elizabeth dies leaving no heirs to the throne. q Cousin James Stuart King of Scotland became King of England q The result: almost a century of turmoil in England pitting the Stuarts against the Parliament

James I • Believed in divine right • Absolute power • “I will not be content that my power be disputed upon” • Fought with Parliament over power and money • Fought the dissenters/Puritans

Charles I • Absolute Monarch • Forced to sign the Petition of Right. • Prohibited the king from raising taxes without the consent of Parliament or from jailing anyone without legal justification. • Dissolved Parliament