Absolutely Absolute. What is absolutism? Period of time when Europe’s monarchs got stronger Period…

Absolutely AbsoluteAbsolutely Absolute

What is absolutism?What is absolutism? Period of time when Europe’s Period of time when Europe’s

monarchs got strongermonarchs got stronger• Monarchs ruled with absolute powerMonarchs ruled with absolute power

Divine Right TheoryDivine Right Theory• Idea that God had chosen the monarch to ruleIdea that God had chosen the monarch to rule

Everyone believes the theory during this Everyone believes the theory during this periodperiod

If you question the king, you question GodIf you question the king, you question God

Strengths of Absolute MonarchiesStrengths of Absolute Monarchies

EfficiencyEfficiency• Decisions are made by one personDecisions are made by one person

NationalismNationalism• Promoted a common culture and identityPromoted a common culture and identity

StabilityStability• The ruler stays in power until deathThe ruler stays in power until death

WealthWealth• No resistance means a large and No resistance means a large and

powerful empirepowerful empire

Weaknesses of Absolute Weaknesses of Absolute MonarchiesMonarchies

UndemocraticUndemocratic• No collaboration of ideasNo collaboration of ideas

Individual rightsIndividual rights• Often violatedOften violated

StabilityStability• If the ruler was poor, it could affect the If the ruler was poor, it could affect the

country for decadescountry for decades

How to achieve more power?How to achieve more power? Monarchs gained power generally in Monarchs gained power generally in

one of two ways:one of two ways:• Raising taxesRaising taxes

Increased their overall wealth Increased their overall wealth • Waging warWaging war

Victory often led to richesVictory often led to riches

PLUS…. PLUS…. many citizens were very many citizens were very willing to trust their leader.willing to trust their leader.

Central Monarchs ClashCentral Monarchs Clash The Thirty Years’ War The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)(1618-1648)

• Fought between Protestants and Catholics Fought between Protestants and Catholics (Hapsburgs) in the Holy Roman Empire (Hapsburgs) in the Holy Roman Empire over over religious and territorial differences. religious and territorial differences.

• First 12 years, Catholics are successfulFirst 12 years, Catholics are successful• Next 18 years, Protestants eventually gain the Next 18 years, Protestants eventually gain the

advantageadvantage• Peace of Westphalia-Ends the ThirtyPeace of Westphalia-Ends the Thirty Years’ WarYears’ War• Helped to shape formation of future nationsHelped to shape formation of future nations

States Form in Central EuropeStates Form in Central Europe Economic Contrasts with the WestEconomic Contrasts with the West

• Serfdom still strong in eastern EuropeSerfdom still strong in eastern Europe Weak EmpiresWeak Empires

• Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire • Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire

The rise of Austria and PrussiaThe rise of Austria and Prussia• Due to the end of the Holy Roman Due to the end of the Holy Roman

EmpireEmpire

States Form in Eastern Europe States Form in Eastern Europe (cont)(cont)

Austria Grows StrongerAustria Grows Stronger• Gains Hungary and Gains Hungary and

BohemiaBohemia• Wiped out ProtestantismWiped out Protestantism

Maria Theresa Maria Theresa (Hapsburg) Inherits the (Hapsburg) Inherits the ThroneThrone• Fought constantly with Fought constantly with

PrussiaPrussia• Limited the labor that Limited the labor that

nobles could force nobles could force peasants to dopeasants to do

Prussia Challenges AustriaPrussia Challenges Austria The Rise of PrussiaThe Rise of Prussia

• Became a rigidly controlled, highly militarized Became a rigidly controlled, highly militarized societysociety

• Controlled by the King and landowning noblesControlled by the King and landowning nobles Frederick the GreatFrederick the Great

• HohenzollernHohenzollern• Very practical leaderVery practical leader• Atheist- established religious tolerationAtheist- established religious toleration• Very aggressive in foreign affairsVery aggressive in foreign affairs

Prussia Challenges Austria (cont)Prussia Challenges Austria (cont) War of Austrian SuccessionWar of Austrian Succession

• War between Prussia and Austria (1740)War between Prussia and Austria (1740)• France helped Prussia, England and AustriaFrance helped Prussia, England and Austria• Prussia wins in 1748, becoming a major European powerPrussia wins in 1748, becoming a major European power

The Seven Years’ WarThe Seven Years’ War Austria, France, Russia vs. Prussia and BritainAustria, France, Russia vs. Prussia and Britain 1756 – Frederick attacked an Austrian1756 – Frederick attacked an Austrian ally, beginning the warally, beginning the war War did not change European territoryWar did not change European territory

• France lost all colonies in North America and France lost all colonies in North America and India to BritainIndia to Britain

Russian HistoryRussian History Russia Contrasts with EuropeRussia Contrasts with Europe

• EconomicallyEconomically Still heavily reliant on serfdomStill heavily reliant on serfdom

• SociallySocially Mongols kept Russia isolated from Mongols kept Russia isolated from

Renaissance and Age of ExplorationRenaissance and Age of Exploration• GeographicallyGeographically

Ports froze during winterPorts froze during winter Size of Russia was a problemSize of Russia was a problem

• Religious differencesReligious differences Europe: Catholic or ProtestantEurope: Catholic or Protestant Russia: OrthodoxRussia: Orthodox

The Absolute Rulers of RussiaThe Absolute Rulers of Russia

The First CzarThe First Czar• Ivan IV (“The Terrible”)Ivan IV (“The Terrible”)

became czar (caesar) in 1533became czar (caesar) in 1533 Took control over the noblesTook control over the nobles

• Rule by TerrorRule by Terror Police force organized to track down and Police force organized to track down and

murder “traitors” to Ivanmurder “traitors” to Ivan Killed many nobles (boyars) and gave the Killed many nobles (boyars) and gave the

land to new, more loyal noblesland to new, more loyal nobles

The Absolute Rulers of Russia The Absolute Rulers of Russia (cont)(cont)

Rise of the RomanovsRise of the Romanovs• After Ivan IV’s death (1584), the “Time After Ivan IV’s death (1584), the “Time

of Troubles” occurred – nobles of Troubles” occurred – nobles struggling for powerstruggling for power

• 1613 Michael Romanov was chosen as 1613 Michael Romanov was chosen as the next czarthe next czar

Romanov Dynasty 1613-1917Romanov Dynasty 1613-1917

For you know yourself that, though a For you know yourself that, though a thing be good and necessary, our thing be good and necessary, our people will not do it unless forced to”people will not do it unless forced to”

Peter The GreatPeter The Great1689-17251689-1725

Peter’s ReformsPeter’s Reforms• Russian Orthodox Church under state controlRussian Orthodox Church under state control• Reduced the power of landownersReduced the power of landowners• Hired European military officersHired European military officers

Westernizing RussiaWesternizing RussiaPeter visits the WestPeter visits the West

• Wanted to learn about EuropeanWanted to learn about European customs and manufacturing techniquescustoms and manufacturing techniques• Introduced potatoesIntroduced potatoes• Women’s status increasedWomen’s status increased• Nobles had to give up traditional dressNobles had to give up traditional dress• Advanced education Advanced education

Peter Rules AbsolutelyPeter Rules Absolutely Establishing St. PetersburgEstablishing St. Petersburg

• Wanted to establish a seaportWanted to establish a seaport Make it easier to get to EuropeMake it easier to get to Europe Warm water port – would not freeze in Warm water port – would not freeze in

winterwinter• Built on a swampBuilt on a swamp• 25-100K people died to build the city25-100K people died to build the city• Became a very important port cityBecame a very important port city

St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

War Topples a KingWar Topples a King• Parliament tried to limit the powers of Parliament tried to limit the powers of

King Charles I – starts a war insteadKing Charles I – starts a war instead• English Civil War (1642-1649)English Civil War (1642-1649)• Royalists (Cavaliers) vs. RoundheadsRoyalists (Cavaliers) vs. Roundheads• Puritan Roundheads wonPuritan Roundheads won

Tried, convicted and executed Charles ITried, convicted and executed Charles I• Never had a monarch been tried and executedNever had a monarch been tried and executed

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell’s RuleOliver Cromwell’s Rule

• General during the war who now led the countryGeneral during the war who now led the country• Established a republican governmentEstablished a republican government• Had to squash a rebellion in IrelandHad to squash a rebellion in Ireland

Puritan MoralityPuritan Morality• Ruled with an iron fist. Ruled with an iron fist. • Sought to reform societySought to reform society• Abolish sinful activities – sports, theaterAbolish sinful activities – sports, theater• Religious toleration for all except CatholicsReligious toleration for all except Catholics• Cromwell ruled until death, gov’t collapsedCromwell ruled until death, gov’t collapsed

Restoration and RevolutionRestoration and Revolution Charles II ReignsCharles II Reigns

• Restored the Monarchy of EnglandRestored the Monarchy of England• Reformed the legal systemReformed the legal system• Habeas Corpus- Habeas Corpus- must have a reason to have a must have a reason to have a

person arrested. person arrested. James II and the Glorious RevolutionJames II and the Glorious Revolution

• King James offended many b/c of his CatholicismKing James offended many b/c of his Catholicism• Parliament worried of a Catholic line of KingsParliament worried of a Catholic line of Kings• James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her

husband William were asked by Parliament to husband William were asked by Parliament to overthrow Jamesoverthrow James

• William invaded, and James fled – Bloodless William invaded, and James fled – Bloodless Revolution known as the Glorious Revolution Revolution known as the Glorious Revolution

Limits on Monarch’sLimits on Monarch’s Power Power

Bill of RightsBill of Rights• William and Mary established a constitutional William and Mary established a constitutional

monarchymonarchy• Limits on royal power increasedLimits on royal power increased• Establishment of the English Bill of RightsEstablishment of the English Bill of Rights

Cabinet System DevelopsCabinet System Develops• Became the link between the King and Became the link between the King and

Parliament - advisors to the KingParliament - advisors to the King• Leader of the majority party heads the cabinet Leader of the majority party heads the cabinet

– Prime Minister– Prime Minister

English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights Ruler cannot:Ruler cannot:

• Suspend Parliament’s Suspend Parliament’s lawslaws

• Levy taxes without Levy taxes without permissionpermission

• Interfere with Interfere with freedom of speechfreedom of speech

• Penalize a citizen Penalize a citizen who criticizes the who criticizes the KingKing