The Rise of Absolute Monarchies

(1500’s-1700’s)

 First things first…  What is an Absolute Monarchy?

Absolute = All Powerful Monarch = King or Queen

Absolute Monarch= An all-powerful king or queen

Also, kings and queens handed their power down to their children.

It was a line of succession that stayed in the family

Characteristics of Absolute Monarchs It’s GREAT to be the King!

“I am the state”  They made all the laws  They were NOT subject to the laws.

They Ruled by “Divine Right”

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They believed that they derived their right to rule directly from GOD.

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Accountable only to GOD.

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Not the people!

    Accumulated Vast Sums of Wealth How…?

By seizing new territories in the New World and the Far East Expanding trade overseas and within Europe Taxing the growing wealth of their people

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They used their wealth to build LARGE, PERMANENT ARMIES!

No more need to depend on feudal contracts with their vassals These armies were loyal to the King, NOT to the Country!

NOW WHAT???

They used these armies to wage war against each other of course!

Absolute Monarchies and Divine Right Rule (1500s – 1700s)

Long Term Causes

1.

Decline of feudalism 2.

3.

Rise of cities and growth of middle class Growth of nations/ kingdoms 4.

Decline of Church’s power

Immediate Causes

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2.

3.

4.

Religious and territorial conflicts Buildup of armies Need for increased taxes Revolts by peasants and nobles

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2.

3.

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Absolute Monarchies

Immediate Effects Regulation of religion and society Huge building projects Loss of power by nobility and legislatures Long Term Effects Revolution in France Western European influence on France English political reform that influences US democracy

The Monarchs

  Phillip II of Spain (1527 – 1598) Sought to expand Spanish influence – ruled Spain when the empire was at its height. Included the Spanish New World  Devout: tried to strengthen Catholic church   Centralized royal power Married Mary I of England – returned England to Catholicism  Invaded England with Spanish Armada against Elizabeth I – He lost most of the Armada.

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Queen Elizabeth I of England

1533-1603 Daughter of Henry VIII Ruled England during the height of the empire (Golden Age)   Kept Parliament on her side. Suspected of supporting the protestants in England  Stabilized the nation and expanded British territory.  Died without an heir.

 Country had to decide who would replace her.

Louis XIV of France

       Called himself the Sun King Believed in divine right.  “L’etat, c’est moi.” I am the state. Made French army the strongest in Europe France was the wealthiest country in Europe under Louis XIV Louis XIV spent huge amounts of money Built the palace at Versailles War of Spanish Succession

Louis XIV’s Carriage

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Versailles Statistics

2,000 acres of grounds 12 miles of roads 27 miles of trellises 200,000 trees 210,000 flowers planted every year 80 miles of rows of trees 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal 12 miles of enclosing walls 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles 21 miles of water conduits 3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed 26 acres of roof 51,210 square meters of floors 2,153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6,000 paintings 1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings 2,100 sculptures 5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

Versailles Today

Palais de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles

Gardens at Versailles

Chateau de Versailles Gardens

Fountains, Fountains, and More Fountains!

And More Fountains!

Hall of Mirrors

The King’s Bed The Queen’s Bed

Louis XIV’s Chapel

Louis XIV Furniture

Frederick the Great of Prussia (1712 – 1786)   Built up strength of Prussian army Increased the territories of Prussia  Attacked Austria, sparking the War of Austrian Succession  Unified Prussia, part of the Holy Roman Empire, into one nation

Maria Theresa of Austria (1717 – 1780)  Fought Frederick II of Prussia for control of Hungary and Silesia  Reorganized the government   Enlightened Despot – form of government in which absolute monarchs encourage reforms based on the ideas of the enlightenment Eased tax burden on her people  Gave more rights to her subjects  Gave birth to 16 children while in power  Including Marie Antoinette

Peter the Great of Russia (1672 – 1725)       Goal was to westernize Russia. Forced powerful boyars to bow to his will.

Built modern Western city for Russian capital – St. Petersburg.

Spread serfdom.

Studied Western technology. Worked in a shipyard Extended Russian territory – to Pacific Ocean.

1700: Fought Sweden for control of Baltic. Gained several Baltic ports

Russia – Peter the Great

From World History: Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003

St. Petersburg – “The window on the sea”

Catherine the Great of Russia (1729 – 1796)    Expanded size of Russia Gained access to warm water port at the Black Sea “Enlightened Despot” pursued legal, social, and educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment

Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire (1494 – 1566)   Expanded Ottoman Empire – Balkans, Mid-east and North Africa Captured Baghdad and became caliph of the Islamic World