System of government •King or Queen has complete control over government & its people
AutocracyCentralized GovernmentNation states
•Monarchs based their claim on Divine Right
Authority comes from God Similar to “Mandate of Heaven”
•Monarchs are “Above the Law”
•Common features- Strong armies,limited representative bodies, high taxes
Breakdown of Feudalism/ Rise of Nation states
Continuous Warfare
Need for money
Exploration
Declining influence of the church
Regulation of Religion & society
Loss of power by nobility & legislatures
New government Bureaucracies
Huge building projects
The Hapsburg Monarchy1556 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V divides empire
Son Phillip II rules Spain, Netherlands & Italy
Promoted “Golden age of Spain”
•Wealth from colonies helped buildup military
•Defender of Catholicism1588-Spanish Armada defeated by England (Elizabeth I)
1600’s Spain power declines Financial problems
The Bourbon Monarchy•Henry IV increases power of Govt. & decreases power of nobility•Louis the XIII strengthens & builds up military
Cardinal Richelieu subdues nobles & Huguenots
Known as “The Sun King”Ruled for 72 years•Mercantilist policies•Built the strongest army in Europe•Expanded bureaucracy•Never called the Estates General•Persecuted the Huguenots
French Protestants
•Built Lavish palace @ Versailles“Gilded Cage” for nobility
His successors inherited enormous debts (costly Wars & extravagance)
1480 Russian rulers drive Mongols out
•Early Czars Ivan III & Ivan IV (Terrible) used harsh methods to unify Russia & strengthen Monarchy
•1613 Michael Romanov begins Romanov Dynasty
•Grand Embassy tour
Toured Europe learning new technologies
•Westernization/Modernization
•Introduced western ideas
•Laws, technology, culture
•Built largest army in Europe
Won territory along the Baltic Sea
St. Petersburg becomes “Window to the West”
Major trading port & new capital
Centralized power
Reduced power of the nobility
Brought Orthodox Church under his control
1215 King John forced to sign Magna Carta
Limited King’s powers1295 Edward I establishes Model Parliament
Lawmaking bodyHouse of Lords & House of Commons
Parliament successfully blocked attempted shifts to absolute ruleThe Tudor Monarchs(1485-1603) generally worked well w/ ParliamentEx. Henry VIII & Elizabeth I
Had absolutist tendencies (Strong belief in Divine Right)James I & son Charles I Consistently clashed with Parliament over finance & foreign policyAngered Puritans
Known as the Puritan Revolution (1643)Charles’s Cavaliers vs. Roundheads led by Oliver CromwellCharles I is overthrown by forces loyal to Parliament
beheaded in 1649
England became a Republic called the CommonwealthAt first Cromwell & Parliament share power •1653 Cromwell assumes Title of Lord Protector & rules as a dictator
Cromwell brutally put down revolts in Ireland & Scotland (Genocide)
•Upon Cromwell’s death, Parliament restores Stuart Monarchy to throne
•Charles II & James II became unpopular due to absolutist policies
•Parliament fears return of Catholicism(James II)
•Parliament overthrows James II & asks William & Mary to assume throne (Glorious Revolution)
1688-William & Mary forced to sign English Bill of Rights is signed
Guarantees Parliament’s superiority over the Monarchy
England becomes a Limited Monarchy (Remains today)
