absolutism in europe. europe monarchs were strengthened through their colonies –economic growth...
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Absolutism in Europe
Europe
• Monarchs were strengthened through their colonies– Economic growth through mercantilism– Goal to become most wealthy nation– Competition among nations
Absolute Rule and Divine Right
• Rulers believed they were chosen by god to rule– Known as Divine RightDivine Right
• Also believed that they should have absolute power without limit– Known as AbsolutismAbsolutism
Spain
• Once the most powerful nation in Europe– Phillip II (rule 1156-1598)
• Catholic, disliked Protestants– Spanish Inquisition, Reconquista
• Competition and conflict with England– Religious differences and British piracy
• 1588- sends he Spanish Armada to invade England– Fails
• Spain loses its place as the most powerful nation in Europe
England
• English monarchs share power with Parliament– Some try to take power from Parliament
• Tudor Dynasty:– Important rulers:
• Henry VIII (starts Anglican Church)• Elizabeth I
– Highly educated, not married, Europe flourishes under her reign, sponsored piracy against Spanish fleets
England
• Tudor Dynasty ends with Elizabeth– She died without an heir
• King of Scotland becomes new English monarch– James I
• Founder of Stuart Dynasty• Believed in Divine Right and wanted absolute
power
England
• England begins period of conflict– Religious and political
• James I and his successor, Charles I abuse their power
• English Civil War:– Supporters of king fight with supporters of
Parliament• Parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell
England
• Cromwell defeats the kings forces– Monarchy abolished and England declared a
Republic– Eventually, Cromwell will establish a military
dictatorship
• 1658: Cromwell dies and monarchy eventually restored– Trouble will soon begin again
England
• James II became king in 1685– Openly Catholic, has son who will carry on the
Catholic rule
• 1688: Glorious Revolution– Nobles invite William and Mary to take throne
• Mary was James II’s daughter (Protestant)• James and his family flee to France
• 1689: William and Mary sign the English Bill of Rights– Limit power of monarchs and give political power to
Parliament
France
• Ruled by Bourbon Family
• Support Catholic Church– Short period of tolerance for Protestants
• Edict of Nantes
France
• Louis XIV– Became king in 1643
at age 5• Rules for 72 years
– Sun King– Absolute ruler, Divine
Right– Palace of Versailles
France
• Important advisors to monarchs:– Cardinal Richelieu: works to increase power of
monarch (advisor of Louis XIII)– Jean Baptiste Colbert: believed in mercantilism
(economic advisor of Louis XIV)
• France will wage many wars in attempts to increase her own power– Conflict with England
• War of Austrian Succession• Seven Years War
– Fought in Europe, Americas, India
German States
• Germany not a united country until late-1800’s– Broken into small states– Part of the Holy Roman Empire
• Austria and Prussia two most important German states– Austria ruled by Hapsburgs– Prussia ruled by Hohenzollerns
German States
• Austrian rulers often also served as Emperors of Holy Roman Empire
• Important Ruler:– Maria Theresa:
• Came to throne in 1740
German States
• Prussia was a very militaristic German state– Ran by the Hohenzollern family
• Frederick William I increased the power of the Prussian military
• Frederick the Great made Prussia a great power
Russia
• Largely isolated from rest of Europe
• Economy underdeveloped due to Mongols
• Mongols overthrown by Moscow– Ivan III (Ivan the Great)
• Bloody history– Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)
Russia
• Romanov Dynasty began in 1613
• Important Rulers:– Peter I (Peter the Great)
• Rules from 1689-1725• Wanted to Westernize Russia• Made important changes to modernize Russia• New capital at St. Petersburg• War with Sweden for access to Baltic Sea
Russia
• Catherine the Great– German Princess who seizes throne from her
husband Peter III– Also wanted to modernize and westernize
Russia
• Although making improvements, Russian peasants had very harsh lives– Serfdom very much like slavery in Russia