AKS 42: Absolute Monarchs Chapter 21 – PAGES 589-617 Chapter 22.2 & 22.3 – PAGES 629-639
AKS 42: Absolute Monarchs
Chapter 21 – PAGES 589-617
Chapter 22.2 & 22.3 – PAGES 629-639
FranceBackground: Henry of Navarre (Henry IV)
1st king of Bourbon Dynasty Converted to Catholicism Devoted reign to rebuilding France & its prosperity
Edict of Nantes Issued by Henry Huguenots could live in peace in France & set up
their own houses of worship in certain cities
FranceBackground: Cardinal Richelieu
No walls in Protestant cities Weakened power of nobles by ordering them to
take down their castles & by increasing the power of government agents
FranceLouis XIV (14th) Comes to Power (4 yrs old ): France suffered from
riots by nobles – Louis’ life threatened at times
Louis never forgot fear/anger – vowed to be so strong nobles could never threaten him again
“I am the state.”
- Louis XIV
So distinguished
FranceLouis XIV Comes to Power: Jean Baptiste Colbert:
Made France economic power in Europe Followed mercantilism – making France self-
sufficient Expanded & protected French industry Encouraged migration to Canada to increase the
fur trade profits
FranceSun King’s Grand Style: Controls Nobility
Nobles expected to be at Palace at Versailles – if not, incomes & social status were decreased
Made nobility totally dependant on Louis Patron of the Arts
Increased the popularity of the opera & ballet Supported writers Promoted art that glorified monarchy & supported
absolute rule
IMPRESSIVE, BUT COSTLY!!!
FranceDisastrous Wars and Legacy: Expansion
Wanted to expand borders – succeeded at first Enemy Countries banded together to match
France’s strength – balance of power
FranceDisastrous Wars and Legacy: War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714)
Charles II of Spain died – throne went to Louis’ grandson – Spain & France now ruled by French Bourbon kings
Treaty that ended war allowed Louis’ grandson to stay in power as long as thrones of Spain & France were not united
Big winner - Great Britain: Took the Strait of Gibraltar – great for trade!!! Increased involvement in slave trade
FranceDisastrous Wars and Legacy: Death and Legacy:
People rejoiced at news of Louis’ death Positive Legacy:
Military leader of Europe Ranked above all others in art, lit., statesmanship
Negative Legacy: War & construction of Palace at Versailles = massive debt Tax burden by poor & Louis’ abuse of power would plague
his heirs & set stage for revolution
RussiaThe First Czar: Ivan the Terrible
1st to call himself “czar” 1547-1560 – “good period” – won victories, added
lands, code of laws, ruled justly Terror
1560-1584 – “bad period” – Ivan accused boyars (Russian nobles) of poisoning his wife, Anastasia
Using secret police – Ivan executed boyars, their families, & peasants who worked their land
1581 – Ivan killed his oldest son – this left only the weak son to rule
Wow, he’s ugly
RussiaThe First Czar: Romanovs:
Ivan’s weak son died – creating a period of turmoil with no leader
1613 – leaders from Russian cities met to choose the next czar – they chose Michael Romanov
This begins the Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)
Mikey!!!
RussiaCzar Peter the Great: Russia Different Than Europe:
Russians had looked to Constantinople for leadership
Mongols & geographic barriers had cut Russia off from the ideas of the Renaissance & the Age of Exploration
Religious Differences – Russia was Eastern Orthodox Western Europe was mostly Catholic or Protestant
Russians viewed them all as heretics
RussiaCzar Peter the Great: Peter Visits West:
Peter believed Russia’s future depended on having warm-water port
1697 – The “Grand Embassy” took a long visit to Western Europe
Their goal was to learn about European customs and manufacturing techniques
RussiaPeter Rules Absolutely: Reforms:
Brought Russian Orthodox Church under state control Decreased power of great landowners
Modernized army by hiring European officers who drilled soldiers in European tactics with European weapons
Paid for army with heavy taxes
“For you know yourself that, though a thing be good and necessary, our people will not do it unless forced to.”
- Czar Peter the Great
RussiaPeter Rules Absolutely: Westernization:
Introduction of potatoes Started 1st newspaper Increased women’s status Ordered nobles to adopt Western fashion Advanced Education –
Peter believed this was key to Russia’s progress
RussiaPeter Rules Absolutely: St. Petersburg:
Wanted a warm-water seaport so it would be easier to travel to Western Europe
Fought Sweden for land on Baltic Sea Had St. Petersburg built on a piece of swampy
land Estimated 25,000 – 100,000 people died in the
effort to build it
EnglandDefying Parliament: James I (1603-1625):
Struggled w/ Parliament over the debt left behind by Queen Elizabeth I.
He became the 1st Monarch to rule both England & Scotland at the same time.
Agreed to a new translation of the Bible
EnglandDefying Parliament: Charles I (1625-1649):
Charles I was forced to sign the Petition of Right: Petition of Rights said that Charles I could:
Not imprison subjects without due cause Not levy taxes w/o Parl.’s consent Not house soldiers in private homes Not impose martial law during peacetime
This set forth the idea that the power of the LAW was higher than the power of the KING
Charlie!
EnglandEnglish Civil War (1642-1649): Background/Causes:
Parliament passed laws to limit royal power, outraging the King The King then arrested Parliament leaders & a mob
began to form. The mob was split in two:
Royalists/Cavaliers: People loyal to Charles Roundheads: Puritan supporters of Parliament
EnglandEnglish Civil War (1642-1649): Result:
Roundheads win Oliver Cromwell:
Roundhead General Tried, beheaded Charles I for treason - 1649 Established a Commonwealth, which is a republic form of
government
SpainSpanish Empire: Philip II:
Philip II Seized Portugal because their was no heir to the throne Philip II now ruled an empire
that circled the globe Empire gave him lots of
wealth His duty was to defend
Catholicism.
“His smile and his dagger were very close.” - Phillip’s court historian
SpainDefeat of Spanish Armada:
Background: Philip launched the
Spanish Armada (AKA the Spanish Navy) in an attempt to punish Protestant England & Queen Elizabeth I (who supported Protestant subjects who had rebelled against Philip).
SpainDefeat of Spanish Armada: What Happened:
Spanish Armada defeated Impact:
Seriously weakened Spain
SpainSpanish Art and Literature: El Greco (“the Greek”):
His art was unusual & helped to illustrate thedeep Catholic faith of Spain
Diego Velasquez: Painter for the Royal Court of King Philip IV of
Spain Cervantes:
Miguel de Cervantes’ novel: Don Quixote de la Mancha (1605) Considered the birth of the modern European novel
Spain - Empire Weakens: Inflation:
Two causes: Spain’s pop. increased Silver bullion flooded the market, made it lose value
Taxes: Spain’s nobles didn’t pay taxes
Created a burden on the lower classes They never developed a middle class
Bankruptcy: To finance wars = Spanish kings borrowed money
from German & Italian bankers Philip had to declared Spain bankrupt three times
Spain - Dutch Revolt and Dutch Prosper: 1566 Philip raised taxes in the Netherlands &
tried to crush Calvinism Dutch revolted. 1579 The 7 Northern Provinces of the Protestant
Netherlands, united & declared their indpendence from Spain.
Dutch Art: Rembrandt – painted portraits of wealthy middle-class
merchants Dutch Trade:
Stability of gov’t concentration on econ. growth Dutch East India Trading Company – dominated Asian
spice trade
PrussiaThirty Years’ War (1618-1648) Causes:
Lutheran & Catholic Princes tried to gain followers in Prussia Split in 2 leagues: Protestant Union & Catholic League
Spark: Ferdinand II (Holy Roman Emperor) closed some
Protestant churches Protestants in Bohemia revolted
PrussiaThirty Years’ War (1618-1648) Hapsburg Wins:
During the first 12 yrs Hapsburg armies crushed troops hired by Protestant Princes
Hapsburg Losses: Protestants drove Hapsburg armies out of North
Germany
PrussiaThirty Years’ War (1618-1648) Peace (Treaty) of Westphalia:
Weakened Hapsburgs States of Spain & Austria Strengthened France by giving them German terr. Made German Princes Independent of the Holy
Roman Empire Ended religious wars in Europe Created a new method of reaching peace
negotiations
PrussiaThirty Years’ War (1618-1648) Results:
Trade & agriculture were disrupted Germany’s economy was ruined Treaty recognized Europe as a group of equal,
independent states Beginning of modern state system
AustriaGrows Stronger: Austrian Hapsburgs re-conquered Bohemia
and wiped out Protestants living there. Created a centralized government & created
a standing army
Austria - Maria Theresa: Charles VI convinced all
of the leaders of Europe to sign an agreement stating that his daughter, Maria Theresa, was heir to all Hapsburg territories
They thought agreement would bring peace, instead she faced yrs of war her main enemy was Prussia
PrussiaRise: Army of 80,000 men paid for with permanent
taxation Weakened representative assemblies of their
territories Gave the Junkers (Prussia’s landowning
nobility) the exclusive right to be officers in his army Causing Prussia to become a rigidly controlled, militaristic society
PrussiaFrederick the Great: Military policies,
softened some laws Encouraged religious
toleration & legal reform
Said that “a ruler should be a father to his people”
“…the fundamental role of governments is the principle of extending their territories.”
- Frederick the Great
PrussiaWar of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) War over Silesia bordered Prussia Hungary & Britain helped Maria Theresa
stopped Prussian aggression Prussia became major European power
PrussiaSeven Years’ War (1756-1763) Fought in Europe, India, & North America No change in territory in Europe British real victors
France lost colonies in North America Britain gained sole econ. domination in India