Age of Absolute Monarchs Why Stronger King n
Age of Absolute Monarchs
Why Stronger King? n n Because of chaos and war Strong government to take control and end chaos Someone to settle religious disputes (Protestants/Catholics) Create stability in gov’t.
How did the Protestant Revolution give Kings more power? n n n Protestant Kings don’t have to worry about Excommunication Reduces power of Catholic Church – less Church interference Strengthens governments with Protestant leaders – because of the above
Effects of New Technologies? n n Muskets & Cannons make Knights and armor obsolete Knights take 14 years of military training, peasants with muskets can be trained in a few months Kings no longer need Nobles and Knights to provide armies, they create Peasant Armies with muskets Kings need ENORMOUS WEALTH to buy weapons and train larger armies – COLONIES AND MERCANTILISM $$$$
How Does Wealth Help King? /What Class Will Be Important? n n Undercuts power of the Nobles (Kings don’t need them) New wealth continues to break down the Feudal system (Kings don’t worry about unloyal Nobles) Kings need peasants for larger armies New social class of wealthy merchants supports Kings – they become more important than Nobles
Characteristics of Absolute Monarchs
Centralized Power n n n Nobles have less and less power Catholic Church has less and less power Kings take more control of government, military, economy and society
Powers n n n Political: Make all laws with no elections or voting Economic: Control of colonies, trade, taxes, and tariffs to enrich the government People have no say in their government – only the King!
Divine Right n n God gives the King or Queen the right to rule a country Opposing the King or Queen is therefore opposing God (= sin)
Control the Economy n n n Establishing Colonies Taking new land for colonies (overseas wars) Mercantilism Taxing colonists Setting trade restrictions
THE SUN KING Louis XIV’ s Crib The Palace at Versailles
Gardens
Gardens
Gardens
Hall of Mirrors
Fountains
Fountains
Monarchs n EXPLAIN: what an Absolute Monarch is. n EXPLAIN: at least three of the circumstances that allowed Monarchs to become so powerful. n EXPLAIN: at least three characteristics of absolute monarchs. n FYI: You must describe your answers in detail
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