Absolute Monarchy vs Constitutional Monarchy summing up Absolute

Absolute Monarchy vs. Constitutional Monarchy (summing up)

Absolute Monarchy • A government in which the ruler has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society • Divine-Right

Ruler Philip II Louis XIV Peter I Dates / Country/ Dynasty Spain / Hapsburg France / Bourbon / 1648 - 1715 Russia / Romanov 1696 - 1725 Religion Catholic Eastern Orthodox Attempts to create a common culture / religion • Fights Protestants / Jews/ Muslims in empire expels them • “Most Catholic King” • Gold from new world funds Golden Age • Repeals Edict of Nantes (expelling Huguenots) • Funds the Arts to make France a cultural leader • Colbert increases mercantilistic control of goods and infrastructure • Abolishes Patriarchs & creates “Holy Synod” • Bead and robe laws • New expectations for women at court • Westernization of culture and learning • The Academy Attempts to increase kings / decrease nobles’ power • Did not rely on nobles to administer his kingdom • Declares “I am the state” and rules according to Divine-Right policy • Forces nobles to live with him at Versailles to keep them in check • The “Sun King” • Forces boyars to work for the government in order to keep their land & position • Forces nobles to educate heirs in academy • Boyars must have a residence at St. Petersburg • Uses Intendants (middle class officials) instead of nobles to run government • Creates a new class of nobles loyal only to him called Dvorianie • Table of Ranks! • Senate and creation of military districts • Tries to conquer the Netherlands –(fails) • War of Spanish Succession – tries to ensure his grandson will inherit Spain and France (unsuccessful) • Fights Sweden to gain a “Window on the West” or Baltic Port for European trade he names “St. Petersburg” • First Navy Create a new bureaucracy loyal only to king Wars of expansion • Attempts invasion of England Spanish Armada destroyed

Louis XIV’s Legacy • • • Versailles French Colonial Empire Absolute power to French Kings Resentment of Nobles High taxes on Poor Costly – Mostly unsuccessful wars to dominate Europe • French Art / Fashion

• Colonial Empire • Louis and the arts

Peter the Great’s Legacy • • St. Petersburg – Window on West 1 st Newspaper Raised women’s status Modern education and technology to Russia • 1 st Navy • Westernization – adopted European styles making Russia more a part of Western Europe

Philip II’s Legacy • Gold / silver brought in from Americas funds Spain’s Golden Age • Cervantes: Don Quixote / El Greco • Gold / Silver Inflation • Expulsion of Middle class Jews / Muslims economic decline • Wars against Protestants in Netherlands and England Economic decline and defeat of Armada • Dutch win Independence Golden Age

Constitutional Monarchy • A government in which the ruler’s power is limited by laws (the king or queen cannot break or change these laws at will)

England • Parliament has rights the king can’t overrule • Magna Carta (1215) • English Civil War (1640’s) • Glorious Revolution (1688) • English Bill of Rights (1689) – kings must obey the laws created by Parliament – signed by William of Orange & Mary