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 IISpain ruled by the HapsburgsPhillip II ruled from 1556 – 1598 and was the most powerful monarch in Spanish historyTried to end Protestantism in his domainsInvolved 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 SpainLoyalty of minority religious groups in question. (Protestants, Marranos (Jews Christianity) and Moriscos (Muslim Christianity))Phillip supported the Inquisition’s efforts to uproot hereticsProtestantism never took hold in Spain – Revolts but were put down1567: 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. EnglandTo solve problem with the Netherlands, had to go after England firstMay 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.

FranceThe 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 General4. Built strong French Army5. Fought many wars6. Made France the leading power in Europe7. 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. Persecuted the Huguenots

2. Built Versailles a symbol of power

3. Patronized the arts

4. 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

1200s – 1700s: Russia isolated from western European developments (Crusades, Renaissance, Reformation)Developed based on Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine EmpirePowerful monarchy – crushed opponentsNobility, church, towns never rose against powerIvan the Terrible

Byzantine Empire

• 700s and 800s

• Greatest effect on the Russian Empire

• Russian’s borrowed– Type of government (czar)– Religion – Art and architecture (Hagia Sophia)– Language Cyrillic Alphabet

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

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

Peter the Great1689 – Peter I ascended throne (fun fact: he was 7ft 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 partiesSent Russians abroad to study shipbuilding, naval warfare, mathematics and languagesCreated new capital of Russia, St Petersburg. Russia’s “window to the West”

Political PoliciesPeriod of Westernization and Modernization

Total ControlBorrowed ideas from France. Central bureaucracy with local governmentsBrought Church under his control and created Holy Synod (a council of bishops)New class of nobles. Allowed to own land in return for serviceNobles had full control of serfs

Foreign Policy

Goal to make Russia a European powerExpanded boundaries in south, east and northwestForced China to recognize claims to SiberiaAt 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 coastlineModernize navy and army1721 – 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 economyNo 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

• 1st newspaper

• Introduced potatoes

Legacy of Peter the GreatStrengthened Russia’s role in foreign affairsBrought Russia into the mainstream of western European culture

Broke traditional Eastern Orthodox culture that united the peopleSplit between those who accepted European ways and those who favored traditionIncomplete and hasty reforms

Catherine the Great1762 seized the throne from her weak husband and ruled as empress until 1796.A German princess, but she adopted Russian ways and earned respect of her peopleBelieved all people born equal

Catherine the GreatWanted to free serfs, but a peasant rebellion changed her mindReleased nobles from governmental serviceAllowed nobles to treat peasants how they wantedMore peasants forced into serfdom than ever before and conditions worsened. Common people had fewer rights than any other place in EuropeCatherine brutally squashed any uprisings

“Great” Foreign Policy

Reason why she has her nicknameSignificantly expanded borders and achieved goal of warm water portDefeated Ottoman TurksAcquired territory from PolandExpanded West and South

Parliament Triumphs in England

1215 King John forced to sign the Magna Carta. Limits his power

From 1485 to 1603 the Tudor dynasty worked with Parliament.

1603 Queen Elizabeth dies leaving no heirs to the throne.

Cousin James Stuart King of Scotland became King of England

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.Petition of Right.

• Prohibited the king from raising taxes without the consent of Parliament or from jailing anyone without legal justification.

• Dissolved Parliament