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