European Absolutism1500 - 1800

Key Terms

• Monarch – King or Queen• Absolute Monarch – kings or queens that held

all the power within their country• Divine right –idea that God gave the monarch

their power. Therefor, monarch answered to God only and not the people

Absolutism Evolves• Reformation– End of Papal supremacy– Religious wars • People desire peace• Stronger central authority may provide this

– Growth of national pride

Absolutism in Europe• Absolutism has existed in many places at many

times throughout history. • European Absolutism remerges around 1500– Why do we specifically look at Europe?

• We are part of the western world so it means more to us• Europe will be a dominate power of the world after this

until the 2000s (500 yrs)

• We are going to look at a few of main countries

Spain1555 - 1588

• Charles V – Hapsburg Family (important family)– Empire too big so he divides it and retires (1555)– Brother, Ferdinand gets Austria– Son, Phillip gets Spain

Spain1550 - 1588

• Phillip II– Believed in divine right– Built the Spanish Armada

• Largest navy in the world at this time– why

– Becomes wealthy from gold and silver from the Americas• He personally gets 1/4

– Seeks to punish Non-Catholic nations• Attacks the Ottomans w/ armada

– Wins and weakens Ottomans a little

• Attacks protestant England w/ his armada– Loses the battle and weakens Spain (1571)– England becomes a sea power (1588)

France• 1559 – 1598 Internal religious wars• Henry of Navarre– Allows for religious freedom– Brings peace– Strengthens monarchy – Killed by religious fanatic

• Louis XIII – son, too young to rule– Cardinal Richelieu rules for him

• No wall allowed around protestant towns• Dismantles all defenses of nobles castles• Sets up a spy organization

– He is the bad guy in the Three Musketeers stories

France Continued• Louis XIII – Dies 1643

– 1648 to 1653 violent riots, often led by different nobles

– They threaten the life of Louis XIV

• Louis XIV – Angered by threats he takes

all power away from nobles– Fills govt. positions with

middle class people– Increases France’s wealth

with colonial resources– Most powerful French King

Louis XIV – The Sun KingPalace at Versailles

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIDU39xVcyQ

Central EuropeCentral Europe has old yet weakening Kingdoms Holy Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire2 countries take advantage

• Austria– Takes over smaller kingdoms

and kills off nobles– Creates new ones that swear

allegiance – Austria becomes a mix of

many different nationalities and cultures.

– Must rule with an iron fist• Comes back to haunt them

– World War I starts here

• Prussia – Will become Germany one

day– Gobbles up parts of old HRE– Gives nobles exclusive right to

officer positions in the military

– This becomes a very militaristic country

– In the future • Franco Prussian War• World War I• World War II

http://napoleonscivilwaralternatehistoryflags.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=121737026