Age of Absolutism

1. Age of Absolutism

2. “The Coronation of Tyrannosaurus Rex”

3. 1. Why do you think the T Rex is receiving the crown?2. What does the acceptance speech imply for his subjects?3. Interpret Lord Acton's quote: "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." “The Coronation of Tyrannosaurus Rex”

4. What makes a good leader?

5. Age of Absolutism • Factors that led to absolutism(long-term/short-term) • Characteristics of an absolute monarch • Examples of Absolute Monarchs(Philip II and Peter the Great) • How the English went about limiting the powers of the king and queen

6. Age of Absolutism • Main Idea – During a time of religious and economic instability, Philip II ruled Spain with a strong hand. • Why it Matter Now? When faced with crises, many heads of government take on additional economic and political powers.

7. The Age of Absolute Monarchs, 1500-1800

8. Factors Leading to Absolutism(Long-Term) • Decline of feudalism • Growth of towns and middle class • Loss of church authority • Growth of national kingdoms

9. Factors Leading to Absolutism(Short-Term) • Religious and territorial conflicts • Buildup of armies • Need for increased taxes • Peasants and nobles revolt

10. Characteristics of an Absolute Monarch(Absolutism) • Form of government that offered people of Europe the advantage of a strong central government that could build the nation’s trade and industry • Commanded complete control over their people • Tendency to wage costly wars • Heavy tax burden on peasants to finance wars and their lavish courts • Divine right justifies their power

11. Characteristics of an Absolute Monarch • Used “divine right” to support their claim to the throne • Did not provide stable and lasting governments • Centralize decision-making • Free themselves from nobles and representative bodies such as Parliament • Build a palace/Sponsor the arts

12. Wars Religion Spain’s Golden Age Government Arts

13. Wars Religion • Supports Catholic Reformation • Stops Catholics from converting • to Protestantism • Persecutes Protestants in Spain • Fights against Dutch Protestants • for many years • Builds Strong Navy • Defeats Ottoman navy in 1571 • English navy defeats Spanish • navy in 1588 Spain’s Golden Age Government Arts • Philip II makes himself absolute • ruler • Controls all parts of government • Believes God had given him the • right to rule • Supports arts and learning • Sets up schools of science and • mathematics • Encourages painters and writers

14. France’s Ultimate Monarch Main Idea – After a century of war and riots, France was ruled by Louis XIV, the most powerful monarch of his time. Why it Matters Now? Louis used his power to build a great palace and sponsor art that is part of France’s cultural legacy.

15. Government *Held absolute power *Relied on middle class *Expanded bureaucracy, Economy Versailles and appointed officials *Practiced *Immense Palace to carry out policies mercantilism *Symbol of wealth *Promoted and power trade *Housed the Nobles Arts Wars *French artistic *Massive army style became *Expanded model for all French borders and Europe Religion dominated Europe *Persecuted Huguenots *Revoked Edit of Nantes Louis XIV “Sun King”

16. Parliament Limits the English Monarchy Main Idea – Absolute rulers in England were overthrown, and Parliament gained power. Why it Matters Now? Many of the government reforms of this period contributed to the democratic tradition of the United States.

17. What do we know about England’s government? • Tudor family has worked with Parliament throughout the years because Parliament controls funding. • Elizabeth I (Mary Stuart/cousin) does not have an heir to throne so James I(Stuarts) takes over. • Stuarts do not work with Parliament and continue to claim “divine right” as the reason for why they do not have to respect Parliament.

18. History of English Government • King James I – Untactful in declaring he had divine right; struggled w/Parliament over money to finance his court and foreign wars; offended Puritan members of Parliament by refusing to make Puritan reforms • Charles I – feuded w/Parliament and tried to arrest leaders of Parliament, which led to English Civil War

19. History of English Government • Oliver Cromwell – Puritan who led the Roundheads against the Cavaliers during the English Civil War; sent Parliament members home and ruled as a dictator • Charles II – As part of the “Restoration”, Parliament invited him to rule and passed habeas corpus, which limited king’s power to put down opposition

20. History of English Government • James II – proclaimed his love for Catholicism and fought over the appointments of Catholics to high office in violation of English law • William and Mary – governed as partners, with power of monarchy limited by Bill of Rights

21. English Bill of Rights (Constitution) • Higher law which forces ruler to respect the law • A set of customs, traditions, rules, and laws that sets forth the basic way a government is organized and operated • No suspending of Parliament’s laws • No levying of taxes w/o a specific grant from Parliament • No penalty for a citizen who petitions the king about grievances

22. Peter the Great Main Idea – Peter the Great made many changes in Russia to try to make it more like western Europe. Why it Matters Now? Many Russians today debate whether to model themselves on the West or to focus on traditional Russian culture.

23. What do we know about Russia? • Perceived as backwards and stubborn • Geographically isolated • Socially and economically lagging behind the rest of Europe • No warm-water port

24. Problems Russian people did not believe that change was necessary. The Russian Orthodox was too strong. Solutions Increased powers as absolute ruler. Replaced the patriarch and took over church. Russian Czars Increase Power

25. Problems The great landowners had too much power. The Russian army was untrained and its tactics and weapons were outdated. Solutions Recruited men from lower-ranking families, gave them positions of authority, and rewarded them w/land grants, loyalty to him Expanded army, imposed heavy taxes to pay for his huge, improved army. Russian Czars Increase Power

26. Problems Russian society had to change to compete with the modern states of Europe. Solutions Introduced potatoes, which became staple of Russian diet; ordered nobles to adopt western fashions; introduced the first Russian newspaper. Russian Czars Increase Power

27. Problem To promote education and growth, Russia needed a seaport to travel west. The port needed to be built. Solution Went to war against Sweden and got a portion of the Baltic coastline Forced thousands of serfs to build the port in unhealthy swampland. Russian Czars Increase Power

28. What caused the Thirty Year’s War? • Peace of Augsburg (1555) – Churches could be either Lutheran or Catholic, but not Calvinism • Tension between Catholic and Lutheran princes in Germany led to the development of two rival camps (Protestant Union/Catholic League) • Fear of the spread of Calvinism • Ferdinand’s attempt to limit Protestantism after a Protestant mob riots in the Czech kingdom of Bohemia • Why was this a problem? Ferdinand is a foreigner and an ardent Catholic

29. What caused the Thirty Year’s War? • Ferdinand’s attempt to limit Protestantism after a Protestant mob riots in the Czech kingdom of Bohemia • Why was this a problem? Ferdinand is a foreigner and an ardent Catholic

30. Thirty Year’s War • Broken into two phases • 1st phase – the phase in which Ferdinand and the Hapsburgs triumph • 2nd phase – the phase in which the Hapsburgs are defeated

31. Consequences of the Thirty Year’s War • Devastated Germany and broke it up into 360 states; lost what little unity it once had • Weakened the Hapsburg states of Spain and Austria • Strengthened France, which received German territory • Ended religious wars in Europe