Essential Questions

What factors can spark a political revolution?

What makes political revolution a success or failure?

Absolutism

The rise of

Absolute Monarchies

Kingdoms Rise

• Kings had limited power during Dark and Middle Ages (where the Church reigned supreme, the Church)

• Renaissance and then Reformation blew the doors off of the Church dominating the social sphere of societies

• Reformation really opening the door for discussion on religion and the church and the role it will play in society.

• Took power away from Roman Catholic Church• Also led to wars and the break down of power and authority

within European societies.• Power failure during Reformation leads to a power shift from

the Church to the hands of Monarchs (cap. M)• During the absolute monarchies, the king will reign supreme

and control all aspects of life within the society

• All rules and taxes will be enforced by the king’s men and will go to the king directly (Any one see a potential problem with this????)

• More money circulating society at this time means a growing middle class

• Middle class supports the King because he will protect their property and trade ($$$$)

• Introduction of gunpowder made it so the king had a powerful weapon to take down other kingdoms and feudal lords

• 17th century a period of fighting and war in Europe• This means that governments need armies• This means raising taxes • This results in protests against those taxes• This means Monarchs have to impose their will & control

society

Divine RightHeaven on Earth?

The king ruled as “God’s Earthly representative”

This gave the king ultimate rule and control of the people

Obedience to the king was equal to obedience to God

King answered to God and not his people (problem with this?)

The king could do no wrong

God created the monarchy in represent him on earth

This was a theory, an idea created and perpetuated by those in control (kings) to justify unlimited power over the people

How does Enlightenment play out during this time?

French philosophes were busy thinking about government and people’s rights.

Voltaire thinking about free speech

Montesquieu thinking about branches of government

Rousseu thinking about the general will

BUT…Regardless of what they thought about people’s rights, they lived under a government where they had no rights.

Some people were fine with this

We need a RULER who is as STRONG AS A SEA MONSTER to keep order.

Otherwise people would be at war with each other all the time.

Life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

Are there benefits to this kind of government?

Thomas Hobbes, political philospher

Others strongly disagreedPeople have natural rights. The government must protect those rights. The government has a social contract with its PEOPLE.

If the government doesn’t protect our rights, we can have a revolution!!!

What do you think about his willingness for revolution?

John Locke, political philosopher

War Over Religion Wages on in Europe as Absolute Power Controls Absolutely…

for nowA look at France and Russia

Absolutism in FranceThe Kings Reign Supreme

• Wars continue between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants)

• Edict of Nantes: Declaration of religious tolerance in allowing Huguenots to establish places of worship (Henri de Navarre)

• Louie XIII and Cardinal Richelieu- Louie XIII a weak leader

Cardinal Richelieu

– De facto ruler of France– Wanted to gain political

power– Gained world power for

France and King Louie XIII

– Destroyed nobles’ fortified castles weakened power

– Transferred government functions from the nobles to the middle class, King no longer needed noble officials

King Louie XIV ~ The Sun King• Mazarin:

– Increase taxes for nobles– Strengthens central government– Nobles lead riots against him and King

Louie – Government violently suppressed riots

King Louie XIV finally ready to take control at 23 years old

– increased power and control of intendants (royal agents) responsible for collecting tax and keeping people in line

– Proclaimed that he ruled by divine right

The lavish life of King Louie XIV• Developed the fine foods

and architecture that we see in France today

• Sun King- ruler of the land• Palace of Versailles• People would fall over

themselves to await his favor or greeting

• Hall of Mirrors• God-like stature• Everything was

extravagant• (Hall of Mirrors)

2,000 rooms, 36,000 laborers2 billion+6,000 horses15,000 acres or gardenfine foodspeople to dress him

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

• Power hungry • Greed through expansion • Building the empire too quickly

• Failed wars

Absolutism in Russia• Ivan the Terrible seizes

power from boyars (nobility) & calls himself Czar (caesar)

• Boyars fought to control Ivan

• Built up Russian power – his “good period”

Wife dies and Ivan blames the boyars…which leads to

• The “bad period”• Uses his own police

force to eliminate boyars

• Seizes their land• Tyrannical (son)

Peter the GreatThe Reformer

• Inherits a Russia that is very backwards

• Serfdom (form of slavery) still in effect

• Religion keeps Russia separate from Western Europe (Eastern Orthodox)

• Determined to modernize Russia

• Brings church under his control

• Undermines power of nobility by recruiting from lower ranks creating immediate loyalty

• Modernizes army w/ European tactics- creates strong loyalty to him

• Crushed revolt of nobles• Appointed royal loyalist to

govern not local officials• Introduces potatoes (staple of

diet)• Makes nobles adopt western

style dress• Promotes education• Builds St. Petersburg

King Henry the VIII- England

• First set out to defame Luther and protect Catholic Church

• wanted a male heir to the thrown

• Applied to divorce his wife b/c he wanted that heir

• Church said, no.• King Henry said, fine, you’re

outta here• Replaced the Catholic Church

with the Anglican one which was of course ruled by King Henry himself

Catherine of Aragon Divorced

• born in Spain

•Daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

•Aunt of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire

•Originally married to Henry’s brother Arthur at the age of 16

• Henry escorted her down the isle when she was marring his brother

•Gave birth to daughter Mary I “Bloody Mary”

•Her older siblings were:

•Isabella, Princess of Asturias Queen of Portugal

•John, Prince of Asturias

• Joan I of Spain

•Maria of Castile and Aragon, Queen of Portugal•She was an aunt to:

• Charles V, of the Holy Roman Emperor

Anne Boleyn Executed

• The legend of Anne Boleyn always includes a sixth finger and a large goiter on her neck. However, one would have to wonder if a woman with these oddities could have captured the eyes of the king.

• Had daughter Elizabeth I

Jane Seymour Died

• She gave Henry his only son Edward VI

• Due to complications in childbirth two weeks after giving birth she died

Anne of Cleves Divorced

• Henry only saw a picture of her before marring her

• He couldn’t stand the sight or smell of her

• Married to Henry for only six months

Kathryn Howard Executed

• Married Henry when she was only 17

• Henry married her just two weeks after divorcing Anne of Cleves

• Charged with adultery and treason

Katherine Parr Widowed

• The widow-maker

• Was married two times before

Henry and once afterwards

Quiz on Absolutism

• Describe the Absolute Monarchies of France and Russia. Why do you think they were called “Absolute” Monarchies?

• In what ways do the Absolute Monarchies of Louis XIV & Peter the Great seem similar?

• In what ways are they different?• Use examples in your answer as evidence

with analysis