Download Global Studies II Mr. Mintzes UNIT OUTLINE: The Age of Absolutism

Global Studies II
Mr. Mintzes
UNIT OUTLINE: The Age of Absolutism
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The political crises and the religious wars of the 17th century caused countries to
seek stability by increasing the power of the monarchy.
Monarchs became absolute, meaning they had total and absolute power to rule as
they saw fit.
Absolute monarchs could determine foreign policy, make war, raise taxes,
administer justice, make laws, etc., without needing permission or the authority of a
legislature or the people.
Divine Right of Kings – philosophy that held that monarchs get their power and
authority to rule directly from God. All titles referred to the king or queen as ruling
by “The Grace of God.” Often monarchs were crowned by the Pope or a Cardinal or
Bishop, thus further connecting Church/God with the monarch.
Absolute Monarchs of the 17th century:
Louis XIV – France
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Became king at the age of 4 upon the death of his father Louis XIII
- Reign of Louis XIV was the best example of absolutism.
- His example was followed by other absolute monarchs in Europe.
- Until he was “of age” to rule, power was held by Cardinal Mazarin who maintained
the power of the Catholic Church.
- Louis XIV took power at the age of 23 in 1661. He did not like Paris and did not wish
to remain there.
- Louis built his palace at Versailles, 20+ miles from Paris, and established his court
there along with almost all the government offices.
Versailles was largest, grandest and most expensive palace ever built anywhere in
Europe. It was intended as a demonstration of his power and the wealth of
France.
- Louis “invited” nobles from all over France to join him at Versailles. It was an honor
to be invited to be “at court.” Court life distracted nobles from politics, and kept
them close to Louis XIV, where they could be watched – and controlled.
- Nobles at court also waited on Louis and his Queen – helping them dress, selecting
their wigs, tasting their food, etc.
- Objectionable behavior could get a noble banned from Versailles, exiled from France
– his lands and castles taken by the King.
- Louis was very anti-Huguenot – demanding they convert to Catholicism. Louis
ordered their churches destroyed and their schools closed. More than 200,000
fled from France, many to the New World.
- Louis maintained a very large standing army. He sought glory for France in
conquest. Louis waged numerous wars against other countries in Europe and
expanded the borders and territories of France. Wars were very costly.
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By his death in 1715, France was deep in debt. Historians believe that Louis XIV’s
excesses laid the groundwork for the French Revolution later in the 18th century.
Although they were less effective than Louis XIV, his successors, Louis XV (his son)
and Louis XVI (his grandson) were also absolute monarchs who ruled with total
authority. Louis XVI was overthrown – and then beheaded – in the French
Revolution of 1789.
Spain
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Spain, under Philip II had become a powerful force in Europe and the New
World.
- Spanish control extended beyond the borders of Spain – into Italy as well as
northern Europe – the Netherlands were also a Spanish possession.
- Dutch Revolt – revolution in the Netherlands cost Spain at possession. Dutch led by
William of Orange – he later was invited in by the English nobles to become King
William I of England – ruled with his wife, Queen Mary.
• After getting their freedom from the Spanish the Dutch Republic grew
into a trading giant – large merchant fleet – trading posts and colonies
around the world – including New Amsterdam (New York) in the New
World.
- Spain also built a huge empire in the Western Hemisphere, with possessions and
colonies in Mexico, South America, Central America, what is now the US
southwest, and islands in the Caribbean.
- The Inquisition sought to insure that Spain would remain a Catholic state, exiling or
executing anyone who would not practice Catholicism in accordance with
Church rules.
- Philip married Mary of Scotland, Queen Elizabeth’s sister – tried to return England
to Catholicism. Tried to invade England with Spanish Armada – hundred of ships
and thousands of soldiers – largest fleet in history to that time – soundly
defeated in the English Channel by the English fleet.
Central & Eastern Europe and Russia
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Prussia and Austria became the most powerful of the German states in 17th
century. - Under Frederick the Great, Prussia developed a powerful military and an efficient
bureaucracy that would become the hallmark of German/Prussian government.
- Austria, under the Hapsburgs grew into an empire that spread south into the
Balkans, especially after the Ottoman Turks were defeated and the Muslim
expansion into Eastern Europe was halted.
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Russia became a centralized monarchy under Ivan IV (“Ivan the Terrible”) the first
Russian monarch to take the title of Czar – Russian for Caesar. He expanded the
borders of Russia and destroyed the power of the nobles (boyars)
Peter the Great became Czar in 1689.
He believed in the “divine right of Kings”
- Peter traveled to Western Europe to study military and economy and came back to
Russia with a desire to “Europeanize” Russia.
- He built a more modern army and navy and divided the country into provinces so
they could be ruled more efficiently.
- Peter introduced European customs and etiquette to Russia. Beards had to be
shaved and coats shortened. French, rather than Russian, became the language
of the nobility and the Czar’s court.
- Peter was the first Czar to begin the long search by Russia for a “warm water port”
so that her navy could have access to the sea all year, not just in the warmer
months. 12 month access to the sea has been a keystone of Russian foreign
policy since Peter.
- Peter also built the new capitol of Russia, St. Petersburg, which remained the capitol
until 1917. City was renamed Leningrad after 1917 and renamed again to St.
Petersburg after fall of Soviet Union in 1991.
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Peter the Great was followed by others in his dynasty, the Romanovs, who remained
in power in Russia until 1917. Another true absolute monarch in Russia was
Catherine the Great.
England
Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) – Absolute ruler of England – but had to deal with Parliament for
taxes
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Kept Parliament on her side.
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Stabilized the nation and expanded British territory.
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Defeated the Spanish Armada and guaranteed England’s position as a colonial
power
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Died without an heir.
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Country had to decide who would replace her.