Crisis and Absolutism

The Big Idea

• Crisis breeds Revolution and Change• Both political and social

French Wars of Religion

• French Calvinists vs Traditional Catholics• Both want new converts• Increasingly militant• Saint Bartholomew's Day Masscre• Religious foundation to the wars but also

political and social!

The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre (Massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy in French) in 1572

French Wars of Religion 1562-1598

• Huguenots(French Protestants) = 7% of Population; 50% of Nobility

• House of Bourbon• Valois Monarchy

• Henry of Navarre (P) succeeds Henry IV (C) to the thrown.

• For “The good of France” Henry of Navarre converts to Catholicism

• Edict of Nantes (1598)

Edict of Nantes 1598

• Ends French Wars of Religion• Catholicism = national religion• Grants Huguenots freedom of religion and

right to hold political office.

Religious Wars Continue in Europe

• Philip II (Spain)• “Most Catholic King”• Leads Spain to greatness 1556-1598• Saw Spain as Church’s protector

Philip II

• Defeats Turks @ Battle of Lepanto 1571• Crushes Calvinist rebellions throughout his

kingdom• Battled the Northern provinces

Elizabeth and England

• Daughter of Henry VIII• Most powerful Protestant leader• Act of Supremacy:- Named Elizabeth true and everlasting head of

Church in England- Repealed any laws tolerating Catholics- Protestantism is concrete in England.

War w/ Spain

• 1588 Spanish sent an Armada to attack England

• War of Religion and for political dominance • British fleet(and nature) defeats armada

Economic, Social, and Political Crisis

Europe on the brink of change

Economic

• Inflation• Why?

Social

• Witchcraft Trials• Many blamed for witchcraft• Knowing what we have already discussed,

why do you think people would be blamed for witchcraft?

• 100,000 accused (75% women)

30 years war

• Religious disputes after Peace of Augsburg• Why?• All nations in Europe would be involved

(except England)• Tore apart and destroyed Germany• Ended with Peace of Westphalia 1648

Peace of Westphalia 1648

• France emerged as most powerful nation• All German states could choose own religion• Germany (300 semi-independent states)

recognized

Revolutions

Revolutions

• Stuarts and Divine Right• Tudors die with Elizabeth I – Why? • James I becomes King (Stuart)• Divine right of Kings-

Charles I vs Parliament

• Puritans vs C of E• Charles I (brother of James)• Charles I challenges parliament (remember

Divine Right of Kings?)• Challenges Puritans by forcing Church of

England policies and doctrine upon them.

English Civil War 1642

• Royalists (Cavaliers) vs. Parliament (Roundheads)

• Oliver Cromwell ( Roundhead #1) Victorious• He takes over1.Boots out any royalists- creates “RUMP

Parliament”2.Executes Charles I – shocks Europe3.Declares England a republic

• Then he takes over as dictator!• 1648, Cromwell dies and Charles II is restored

to the throne (Restoration)

The Restoration and Glorious Revolution

Also called musical chairs…

Charles and Brother James were Catholic

• Big Problem for many English• Charles died James II became King 1.Put Catholics in charge2.Creates religious conflict- people feared a

return to Catholicism – why?

The Glorious Revolution

• Why do you suppose it is called the glorious revolution?

• English nobles invited William of Orange to “invade” England

• James II leaves• Throne offered to William and Mary (1689)

• Created a constitutional monarchy• Bill of Rights• Freedom of worship for C of E and Puritans• Destroyed Divine Right- or did it?• Who has the power in England now?

• The Theory of Absolutism• Rulers want to be absolute monarchs—

rulers with complete power• Believe in divine right—idea that

monarchs represent God on earth

• Crises Lead to Absolutism• The 17th century is period of great upheaval• Monarchs impose order by increasing their

own power

Louis XIV

Louis XIV—the most powerful ruler in French history

Louis Weakens the Nobles’ Authority• Louis takes control in 1661• Appoints intendants—government agents—to

collect taxes

Jean Baptiste Colbert—finance minister—helps economy grow

• In 1685, Louis cancels Edict of Nantes; Huguenots flee France

Louis’s Death and Legacy• Louis dies leaving mixed legacy• Rule makes France a major military and

cultural power in Europe• His wars and palace leave France with heavy

debts

Prussia

• The Rise of Prussia• Rulers of Prussia build Europe’s best army • Call themselves kings and become absolute

monarchs• Nobles resist royal power, but king buys loyaltyFrederick the Great• Frederick the Great becomes king of Prussia• Enforces father’s military policies but softens some

of his laws

Russia

Russia

Ivan the Terrible• In 1533, Ivan the Terrible becomes king of

Russia• Struggles for power with boyars—landowning

nobles• Seizes power and is crowned czar, meaning

“caesar”

Rise of the Romanovs• Ivan’s heir is weak, leading to period of

turmoil• In 1613, Michael Romanov becomes czar

Peter the Great becomes czar

Russia Contrasts with Europe• Land of boyars and serfs• Cut off geographically from Europe• Culturally isolated, little contact with western

Europe• Peter Visits the West-In 1697, Peter visits western Europe to learn

European ways

Peter’s Goal• Goal of westernization—using western

Europe as model for change• Brings Orthodox Church under state control• Reduces power of great landowners• Modernizes army by having European officers

train soldiers

Westernizing Russia• Introduces potatoes• Starts Russia’s first newspaper• Raises women’s status• Adopts Western fashion• Advances education• Builds St. Petersburg (the new Capital)ALL FORCED!