AGE OF ABSOLUTISM WHO ARE ABSOLUTE MONARCHS kingsqueens

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 VIDEO, King John Explains Divine Right (Robin Hood movie clip)

REASONS FOR ABSOLUTE MONARCHS, PART I � INCREASE OF MIDDLE CLASS, DECLINE OF FEUDALISM, RISE OF CITIES � 17 th 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 France 1 st 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” VIDEO of the story of Don Quixote (done in a kid version, but gives you the story…basically the dude went crazy!)

ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE: LOUIS XIV <-- Rap Video � 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 2 -minute Hall of Mirrors Video � � 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

V I D E O A must watch!

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 & Austria 2) Strengthens France – gives it German territories 3) Made German princes independent of Holy Roman Emperor 4) Ended religious wars in Europe 5) Introduced new method of peace negotiation 6) Most important: abandoned idea of Catholic empire in Europe & recognized Europe as group of independent states now equal to others

Video Summary of Thirty Years’ War & Peace of Westphalia Funny Video

ABSOLUTE RULERS IN GERMANY (German States) 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) � � 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 MARIA THERESA � � 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 & England 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” Good period – expanded territory, code of laws, ruled justly…. . the his wife dies His Time of Troubles led Russian government to choose new line of rulers: Romanov Dynasty Video: Content Warning!

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 � 1 st 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 Video