The Age of The Age of Absolutism in Absolutism in Europe Europe 1600-1715 1600-1715
Mar 15, 2016
The Age of The Age of Absolutism in Absolutism in
EuropeEurope
1600-17151600-1715
Europe in 1700
Absolutism in FranceAbsolutism in France Louis XIV (1643-1715) Louis XIV (1643-1715)
believed the monarch believed the monarch personified the statepersonified the state
Absolutism was Absolutism was created under created under Cardinal Mazarin who Cardinal Mazarin who secularized France secularized France and fostered loyalty to and fostered loyalty to the French statethe French state
Reign of Louis XIVReign of Louis XIV Used intendants to limit the power of Used intendants to limit the power of
the nobilitythe nobility Mercantilism was used to increase the Mercantilism was used to increase the
wealth of Francewealth of France Jean Baptiste ColbertJean Baptiste Colbert
ColonizationColonization CanadaCanada
Built the Palace of Versailles to Built the Palace of Versailles to demonstrate his power and limit the demonstrate his power and limit the power of the nobilitypower of the nobility
Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles
Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles
Versailles Grande Versailles Grande GallerieGallerie
Daily routines at Daily routines at Versailles were Versailles were exploited by exploited by Louis XIV Louis XIV
The nobility The nobility competed competed against each against each other to perform other to perform menial tasks for menial tasks for the kingthe king
Versailles—Some Versailles—Some StatisticsStatistics
Modern cost: over Modern cost: over $2,000,000,000$2,000,000,000
Annual upkeep took 25% Annual upkeep took 25% of France’s incomeof France’s income
Main building 500 yards Main building 500 yards longlong Two wings: 150 yards longTwo wings: 150 yards long
2,000 rooms2,000 rooms 15,000 acres of gardens 15,000 acres of gardens
with 1,400 fountainswith 1,400 fountains
Peter the GreatPeter the Great Ruled 1696-1725Ruled 1696-1725 Modernized Modernized
Russia through Russia through WesternizationWesternization
Expanded Russia Expanded Russia to Pacificto Pacific
Taxed his Taxed his subjects heavily subjects heavily to pay for his to pay for his projectsprojects
Russian Empire after PtGRussian Empire after PtG
Winter Palace in St. Winter Palace in St. PetersburgPetersburg
Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Ruled Spain (1556-1598) Ruled Spain (1556-1598) when the empire was at its when the empire was at its heightheight
Devout CatholicDevout Catholic Centralized royal powerCentralized royal power Married Mary I of EnglandMarried Mary I of England Invaded England with Invaded England with
Spanish Armada in 1588Spanish Armada in 1588
Frederick II of PrussiaFrederick II of Prussia Absolute ruler of
Prussia (1740-1786) Unified Prussia, part of
the Holy Roman Empire, into one nation
Built on of Europe’s most powerful militaries
Supported the Enlightenment
Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria
Absolute monarch of Austria (1740-1780)
Enlightened Despot Eased taxes and gave
more rights to her subjects
Gave birth to 16 children while in power
1717thth Century England Century England James I (1603-1625) supported James I (1603-1625) supported
absolute ruleabsolute rule Charles I (1625-1649) fought with Charles I (1625-1649) fought with
Parliament over money for his wars Parliament over money for his wars with Spainwith Spain
Dissolved Parliament in 1629 starting Dissolved Parliament in 1629 starting the English Civil War between the English Civil War between supporters of Charles and supporters supporters of Charles and supporters of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwellof Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell: Lord Protector – Oliver Cromwell: Lord Protector –
EnglandEngland Ruled through the army instead of Ruled through the army instead of
ParliamentParliament Exiled Catholics to IrelandExiled Catholics to Ireland Strict Puritan laws passed – theaters Strict Puritan laws passed – theaters
closed, Sunday set aside for worship, no closed, Sunday set aside for worship, no lewd dancing, taverns or gamblinglewd dancing, taverns or gambling
When Cromwell died, Restoration began.When Cromwell died, Restoration began.
The RestorationThe Restoration Charles II (1660-1685) learned the lessons Charles II (1660-1685) learned the lessons
of his predecessors – don’t mess with of his predecessors – don’t mess with ParliamentParliament
James II (1685-1688) was an unpopular James II (1685-1688) was an unpopular kingking Returned to AbsolutismReturned to Absolutism Antagonized ParliamentAntagonized Parliament Ran up a huge debtRan up a huge debt Openly CatholicOpenly Catholic
Forced from throne in what came to be Forced from throne in what came to be called the Glorious Revolution.called the Glorious Revolution.
The Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution (1688)(1688)
William of Orange, the Dutch William of Orange, the Dutch monarch was asked by the English monarch was asked by the English people to depose their king, James IIpeople to depose their king, James II
Parliament now reigned supreme Parliament now reigned supreme The Bill of Rights (1689) outlined the The Bill of Rights (1689) outlined the
powers and rights of Parliamentpowers and rights of Parliament
English Bill of Rights of English Bill of Rights of 16891689
Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the monarchymonarchy
Monarchy could neither make nor suspend Monarchy could neither make nor suspend lawslaws
Trial by jury reinstatedTrial by jury reinstated Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person
can be held in prison without first being can be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime. Due process of charged with a specific crime. Due process of lawslaws
Laid groundwork for American system of lawsLaid groundwork for American system of laws
Thomas Hobbes (1588 –Thomas Hobbes (1588 –1679)1679)
Man is inherently Man is inherently selfish and selfish and aggressiveaggressive
Left on own, chaos Left on own, chaos and conflict would and conflict would rulerule
Citizens need law Citizens need law and to follow a and to follow a sovereign to avoid sovereign to avoid chaoschaos
John Locke (1632 – 1704)John Locke (1632 – 1704) Believed that over Believed that over
time people would join time people would join together to benefit together to benefit from cooperationfrom cooperation
Through a Social Through a Social Contract, sovereignty Contract, sovereignty would remain with the would remain with the peoplepeople
Natural Rights—life, Natural Rights—life, liberty, and propertyliberty, and property