Transcript The Age of Absolutism, 1600-1715

The Age of Absolutism
in Europe
1600-1715
Europe in 1700
Absolutism in France


Louis XIV (1643-1715)
believed the monarch
personified the state
Absolutism was created
under Cardinal Mazarin
who secularized France
and fostered loyalty to the
French state
Reign of Louis XIV


Used intendants to limit the power of the
nobility
Mercantilism was used to increase the wealth of
France


Colonization


Jean Baptiste Colbert
Canada
Built the Palace of Versailles to demonstrate his
power and limit the power of the nobility
Palace of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
Versailles Grande Gallerie


Daily routines at
Versailles were
exploited by Louis
XIV
The nobility
competed against
each other to perform
menial tasks for the
king
Versailles—Some Statistics



Modern cost: over
$2,000,000,000
Annual upkeep took 25% of
France’s income
Main building 500 yards long



Two wings: 150 yards long
2,000 rooms
15,000 acres of gardens with
1,400 fountains
Peter the Great




Ruled 1696-1725
Modernized Russia
through
Westernization
Expanded Russia to
Pacific
Taxed his subjects
heavily to pay for his
projects
Russian Empire after PtG
Winter Palace in St. Petersburg
Philip II of Spain





Ruled Spain (1556-1598) when
the empire was at its height
Devout Catholic
Centralized royal power
Married Mary I of England
Invaded England with Spanish
Armada in 1588
Frederick II of Prussia
 Absolute ruler of Prussia
(1740-1786)
 Unified Prussia, part of the
Holy Roman Empire, into
one nation
 Built on of Europe’s most
powerful militaries
 Supported the
Enlightenment
Maria Theresa of Austria




Absolute monarch of
Austria (1740-1780)
Enlightened Despot
Eased taxes and gave more
rights to her subjects
Gave birth to 16 children
while in power
th
17



Century England
James I (1603-1625) supported absolute rule
Charles I (1625-1649) fought with Parliament
over money for his wars with Spain
Dissolved Parliament in 1629 starting the
English Civil War between supporters of
Charles and supporters of Parliament led by
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell





Oliver Cromwell: Lord Protector – England
Ruled through the army instead of Parliament
Exiled Catholics to Ireland
Strict Puritan laws passed – theaters closed,
Sunday set aside for worship, no lewd dancing,
taverns or gambling
When Cromwell died, Restoration began.
The Restoration


Charles II (1660-1685) learned the lessons of his
predecessors – don’t mess with Parliament
James II (1685-1688) was an unpopular king
Returned to Absolutism
 Antagonized Parliament
 Ran up a huge debt
 Openly Catholic


Forced from throne in what came to be called
the Glorious Revolution.
The Glorious Revolution (1688)



William of Orange, the Dutch monarch was
asked by the English people to depose their
king, James II
Parliament now reigned supreme
The Bill of Rights (1689) outlined the powers
and rights of Parliament
English Bill of Rights of 1689





Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the
monarchy
Monarchy could neither make nor suspend laws
Trial by jury reinstated
Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person can
be held in prison without first being charged with a
specific crime. Due process of laws
Laid groundwork for American system of laws
Thomas Hobbes (1588 –1679)



Man is inherently selfish
and aggressive
Left on own, chaos and
conflict would rule
Citizens need law and to
follow a sovereign to
avoid chaos
John Locke (1632 – 1704)



Believed that over time
people would join together
to benefit from
cooperation
Through a Social Contract,
sovereignty would remain
with the people
Natural Rights—life,
liberty, and property