Absolutism-GODWIN. What Hollywood teaches us about Spanish monarchs…

Absolutism-GODWIN

• What Hollywood teaches us about Spanish monarchs…

• REALITY-

SPAIN- Ferdinand and Isabella• Stressed Religious

Unity

• Persecution directed against Jews and Muslims (Inquisition)

• Insistence on Religious Unity and Lack of Tolerance weakens the country and its culture

• Bottom line-lots of rules

Ferdinand and Isabella vs. Nobility

• They reduce power of the nobility

• Destroy castles built without their permission

• Forbid nobles to wage private wars

• Gain support of some nobles by granting government jobs

• And the Holy Roman Empire goes to…

Charles V of Spain• Inherits Hapsburg lands in Spain and

Holy Roman Empire

• Spain gains lands in Americas

• Gold and Silver accumulate in treasury of Spain

• Difficulties in rule- rebellious Lutheran princes in German States, failed attempt to conquer Italy

• Gives up throne, his empire is split into two parts

Philip II of Spain

• Religious intolerance directed against Protestants, Muslims

• Foreign Wars with Ottoman Empire

• Conquest of Portugal

• Rebellion in the Netherlands- Spain loses Northern Provinces which become independent

• “Invincible” Armada defeated

Decline of Spain

• Wars drained money from the treasury

• Unlike England and others, they did not establish effective trade policies with their colonies

• Gold and silver, their source of wealth from colonies, became depleted

• What Hollywood teaches us about the French monarchs-

• Reality-

France- Henry IV• Religious tolerance- converts to

Catholicism to gain support

• Edict of Nantes makes tolerance the policy of France- gave Huguenots equal treatment

• Brought prosperity to country by trade, honest government, and building France’s infrastructure (roads, canals, etc)

Louis XIII and Richilieu

• Their policy rested on preserving the balance of power in Europe

• To this end, they led France into the Thirty Years’ War in order to limit the power of the Hapsburgs

• France becomes major power of Western Europe

Louis XIV• Absolute monarch- believed in

divine right• Reversed policy of religious

tolerance- persecutes French Protestants

• His luxurious lifestyle weakens French economy

• Tries to gain control of Spain-War of Spanish Succession

• What Hollywood teaches us about English monarchs-

• Reality-

Elizabeth I of England• Policy of religious tolerance adds to

peace within the country

• Successfully avoids challenges from Catholic opponents to her rule

• Her rule is a time of prosperity and culture in England (Shakespeare, etc.)

• Dies without leaving an heir to the throne

The Road to Civil War• Elizabeth’s successors reverse her

policy of religious tolerance, causing conflict

• Charles I policy of intolerance causes needs for money to finance wars, Parliament resists giving him the money

• Parliament insists on Petition of Right which limits his ability to tax

Civil War and Cromwell

• Parliament and Puritans fight against the monarchy

• Oliver Cromwell emerges as leader, King Charles is beheaded

• Cromwell rules , calling his rule a Commonwealth but actually has a military dictatorship

The Restoration

• 1660 -son of the executed King-Charles II ,takes the throne

• Very popular with subjects, not so much with Parliament

• He was willing to be more tolerant with religion than Parliament was

• Succeeded by James II who was deposed by the people in favor of Mary and William

The Glorious Revolution• Mary and William become rulers

but have to agree to conditions of the English Bill of Rights

• These rules make the Crown dependent on Parliament- no more absolute monarchy in England

• King needs Parliament’s approval to raise taxes, raise an army, make laws

Reality check fairy-• Homework-read

and notes on Ch. 21-1

• Vocab due tomorrow

• ONQ Ch. 21-1 and 2 Thursday!

Questions?