Unit 6.2 - Absolutism + Louis XIV

Use and Abuse of Power

Absolutism in Europe

Learning TargetI will understand what absolutism and divine right mean.

Absolutism in Europe

Growing Power for Monarchs

• Decline of feudalism • Rise of cities • Growth of national kingdoms • All of these helped to

centralize authority • Growing middle class

supported monarchs, hoping for peace and good business

Crises that Led to Absolutism

• Continuous warfare in 17th century • Huge armies were built and

heavy taxes were imposed • Some people revolted, which

caused monarchs to impose order by increasing their power

As the Middle Ages ended, monarchs grew increasingly powerful in Europe.

The Theory of AbsolutismAbsolutism: 

• The political belief that one ruler should hold all the power within the boundaries of a country • The goal of absolutism was for a monarch to

control every aspect of society

Divine Right: • The idea that God created the monarchy and the

monarch acted as God's representative on earth • An absolute monarch answered only to God, and

not to his or her people

Effects of Absolutism

• Rulers regulated religious worship and social gatherings to control the spread of ideas • Rulers increased the size

of their courts to appear more powerful • Rulers created

bureaucracies to control their countries' economies.

VIDEO

The Reign of Louis

XIV VIDEO

Louis XIV, the Boy King• Louis XIV was born to a powerful family

who had ruled France since the 1550s.  • When he became king in 1643, France

was a very strong nation.  • He was only four years old when his

reign began. • Until he grew up, France was led by

Cardinal Mazarin, a member of the nobility.  • Mazarin imposed high taxes, which

caused the people to revolt. The violence almost led to Louis XIV's death. • This experience led Louis to decide he

wanted to become so powerful that he would not be threatened again.

Louis XIV Comes to Power

• Louis XIV took control of France when he was twenty-two years old, after Mazarin died. • He weakened the power of the nobility. • He reportedly boasted "I am the state," which meant that he now has absolute power over France. • Louis XIV's wanted France to achieve economic dominance.

Louis XIV, the Sun King• He spent a fortune to surround himself

with luxury. • Each meal was a feast! Four plates of

soup, a whole pheasant, a partridge, two slices of ham, salad, pastries, fruit, hard-boiled eggs. • A court of 100 nobles dressed him each

day. • This made the nobility totally dependent

on Louis. It also required that they live with him. • The Palace of Versailles was built for

Louis, which is now estimated to have cost $2 billion.

The Palace of Versailles

My visit to Versailles when I was

17.

Louis Fights Disastrous Wars

• Louis wanted to expand France's boundaries and went to war with other nations. • Other nations banded together

against France and were able to match France's strength. France was also weakened by poor harvests.  • His wars and the palace left the

nation in debt. • Louis died in 1715, knowing that his

wars had ruined France's strength.  • The people rejoiced when Louis

died.

Reflection Questions

• Why do you think that Louis XIV believed he need such a luxurious palace?

• What do you think it was like to be a peasant in an absolute monarchy? 

• Why do you think there are not very many absolute monarchies today?