Transcript Political Development in the Age of Absolutism

Political Development in the Age
of Absolutism
Prestige - Diplomacy Organization Personality - Opulence Privilege - Conflict
Interest Survey
What Was The Time Like?
 During the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries there were
important shifts in power in Europe.
 Countries that had been powerful declined in power due to political
and/or economic problems. ( Netherlands, Spain, Ottoman Empire,
and Poland.)

Those that rose to power had strong centralized governments.
These states included England, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia.
Russia and Prussia were new players in European politics. One of the
important factors in the success or failure of the state was the
monarch.
What Was The Time Like?
Powerful kings
Power to tax
Power to raise armies
Centralized control
Sea power shifts the world’s wealth
Age of Absolutism
 “Princes, thus, act as ministers of God, and
as His lieutenants on earth. It is through
them that He acts on His empire.”
 Absolutism-a form of government where
the power is held by one individual.
 Divine Right-a belief that the ruler
received his authority to rule directly from
God.
FRANCE- How did it become #1?
 15th Century – limited armies
fighting limited battles throughout
Europe
 16th Century – Europe at war
– 1494 – King Charles VII of
France invaded Italy
–
Charles wanted to unite
Europe under one church
–
Gunpowder was major
question
FRANCE- How did it become #1?
 Mid 16th century
 Religious wars broke out all over
Europe
 Machiavellian thoughts led to
ruthless and unlimited destruction
 Citizen-soldiers fought for cause
of God
 Mercenaries then filled in ranks
French Wars of Religion
 Calvinism vs. Catholicism: Its War Baby –
very militant
 Cause: each side trying to convert the other
 Additional social, economic, political
issues
• French Kings persecuted
Protestants but it had little
effect in stopping the spread
of Protestantism
http://www.economist.com/images/20050528/D2205US0.jpg
Social Crises, War, and Revolution….
“There was nothing but beating and burning, plundering, torture, and murder. Most
especially was every one of the enemy bent on securing (riches)…. In this frenzied
rage, the great and splendid
city was now given over to
flames, and thousands of
innocent men, women, and
children, in the midst of
heartrending shrieks and cries,
were tortured and put to death…
France
France
HENRY IV-1589-1610
– Founder of the House of Bourbon
– Was a Huguenot. Converted to
Catholicism for unity.
– Issued Edict of Nantes- gave
religious freedom to the Huguenots.
France
 UNDER THE BOURBON KINGS, FRANCE
BECOMES AN ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
 FRANCE BECOMES THE MOST POWERFUL
NATION IN EUROPE
 FRANCE IS STRENGTHENED BY THE THIRTY
YEARS WAR
In 1600s this idea of Absolutism was tied with
idea of divine right of kings – rulers receive their
power from God and were responsible to no one
but God
They could make laws, tax, etc.
FRANCE
 After Henry IV’s death, Louis XIII inherited the
throne.
 Marie de Medici (his mom) ruled for 7 years
until he forcefully took back the throne in 1617.
 Gave power to advisor-Cardinal Richelieu
 Richelieu worked to strengthen the monarchy
by reducing the power of the nobles and
Huguenots.
Richelieu
 Was, in effect, the ruler of France.
 Increased power of monarchy
– Weakened nobility by tearing down their castles
– Kept their families as “guests” or imprisoned at
the royal palace
– Weakened rights of Huguenots (Protestant
minority) Forget that Edict of Nantes!
 * made France the richest and most powerful
country by involving it in the 30 Years War
.
shl.stanford.edu:3455/9/admin/image.html?imag
30 Years War
 Began in the Holy Roman Empire
 That is Germany to you…
Louis XIII died and along comes
Louis XIV
 The Sun King
 The best example of an absolute ruler
Young Louis XIV
L’état, C’est Moi!
 “What a grandeur, that a
single man should
embody so
much!…Behold this holy
power, paternal and
absolute, contained in a
single head: you see the
image of God in the king,
and you have the idea of
royal majesty.”
LOUIS XIV
The Sun King-Louis XIV
72 year reign
Most powerful Bourbon monarch
Lived at Versailles-outside of Paris.
Built a magnificent palace there.
The Sun Symbol
Palais de Versailles
Chateau de Versailles
Fountains, Fountains, and More
Fountains!
And Even More Fountains!!!
Palais de Versailles
Garden View of Versailles
Versailles Palace,
Park Side
Hall
of
Mirrors
Louis XIV’s Government
 Believed in France’s unity
– Revoked the Edict of Nantes
– Strengthened military
– Fought for territory and glory for France
• War of Spanish Succession-fight over Spanish
throne
– Treaty of Utrecht ended War of Spanish
Succession. Said both France and Spain under
Bourbon rulers, but could never be united.
• Louis’ aggression led to other countries forming an
alliance against France to achieve a balance of
power.
Balance of Power
Sweden
France
England
Netherlands
France under Louis XIV
 Appointed close advisors- Jean-Baptiste
Colbert
 The poor carried most of the tax burden.
 Louis XIV’s France flourished in arts and
culture, but he left France in financial
despair.
 Major conflicts between nobles and middle
class will lead to the French Revolution.
Video on Versailles
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Empires of Russia
http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/flags/russia-flag.jpg
Great Britain
Austria Hungary
Russia
Holy Roman
Empire = Germany
Spain
France
Papal States (Catholic Church)
Stalin admired him. The rest of
Europe believed he was mad.
What is certain is that he was one of
the most ruthless tyrants in history.
Michael Romanov
First big ruler
of Russia in
A man of God who personally tortured his
1600s
victims and beat his own son to death; a
hardened despot who often behaved like a
coward, asking his ally, Elizabeth I of
England, for political asylum; a man who
believed himself chosen to save the souls
of his people, but who brutally put
thousands to death in carefully
orchestrated purges.
Ivan IV – 1st Czar
http://images.pearsoned-ema.com/jpeg/large/058209948X.jpg
Ivan IV – 1st Czar
Michael Romanov
First big ruler
of Russia in
1600s
http://images.pearsoned-ema.com/jpeg/large/058209948X.jpg
–Sought to reduce power of the
boyars(nobles) who threatened his
power.
–Increased trade, introduced the
printing press to Russia, gained
territory
Next Czar: Michael
Romanov
Cossacks
The fierce warriors
who helped
Michael Romanov
keep power
RUSSIA
ROMANOV DYNASTY
– 1584-1613: After death of Ivan the
Terrible, “Time of Troubles” in
Russia
• Famine, epidemics, peasant
revolts
– Michael Romanov elected czar
– Romanov dynasty ruled until 1917
• became Czar in 1689
• absolutist monarch who
claimed the Divine Right
of Kings
• Known for westernizing Russia
• Russia becomes a great
military power
• Divides Russia into provinces
to better rule it
• Established bureaucracy
• Allows women more equality
• Taught manners in the court
• Built capital of St. Petersburg –
his “window to the West”
Russia at the time of Peter I or Peter the Great
RUSSIA
 PETER I- “PETER THE GREAT--7’2’’
 Sought to westernize Russia
• Toured Western Europe and learned various
customs. He ordered Russian nobility to follow
– Western dress, shaved beards, included
women in social gatherings
– Built St. Petersburg- “Window to the West”
– Established central bureaucracy
– Controlled Eastern Orthodox Church
– Peasants lost freedom
– New class of nobles-dvorianie
St. Petersburg
Window of the West
• The jewel of the
Russian Empire
• THE city to be in
• Full of art, music,
drama
http://www.ikzm-d.de/abbildungen/51_small_map_of_st_petersburg.JPG
RUSSIA
Effect of Peter the Great
– Peter’s reforms brought Russia into
mainstream Western civilization
– Strengthened Russia’s position in
foreign affairs
– Formed a sharp division between
those who accepted the changes and
those who clung to traditional values.
RUSSIA
 CATHERINE II- “CATHERINE THE
GREAT”---1762-1796
• Freed the nobles from their duties to the czar
that Peter had inflicted.
• Expanded territory and gained warm water
port on the Black Sea-(a long term goal of
Peter’s)
• Defeated the Ottoman Turks
• Last of the great absolute monarchs of the
1700’s
• Ideas of liberty and equality were being
introduced in the rest of Europe.
Catherine the Great Czarina of Russia
1762 Catherine the Great
• Big on arts (everyone
spoke French in the
royal court)
•more land @ Black Sea
gained
gained Poland
• expand overland to China
(wild west days of Russia)
• expand all the way to the
Bering Strait then to Alaska
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.virtualclassroom.net/tvc/ausprus/img002.GIF&imgrefurl=http
http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/europe/eu1770.gif
THE GERMAN STATES
 Still part of Holy Roman Empire
 AUSTRIAN HAPSBURGS-family ruled HRE
– Maria Theresa inherited throne in 1740
from her father, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI.
• Pragmatic sanction-a royal statement
that allowed for a woman to inherit all
Hapsburg lands.
• Strengthened central government
• Increased trade and industry
THE GERMAN STATES
 BRANDENBURG-PRUSSIA
– Ruled by Hohenzollern family
• Frederick William- “The Great Elector”
– Unified the armies of all his lands
– Improved tax system, agriculture,
industry, and transportation.
• Frederick William I-“Royal Drill
Sergeant”
– Centralized Prussian government
– Made army the best in Europe
MORE FREDS
 FREDERICK II- “Frederick the Great”
– 1740(same year as Maria Theresa in Austria)
– Took province of Silesia from Austriabeginning of the War of Austrian Succession
– M.Theresa did not settle! The Seven Years
War was between Austria and Prussia over
Silesia and between France and Great
Britain(known as French and Indian War in
America)
– RESULTS: Prussia gets Silesia, Britain is
strongest colonial power.
The English Monarchy
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
ENGLAND
HENRY VII-FIRST TUDOR
MONARCH-took throne in 1485 after
the War of the Roses. Avoided war and
strengthened England at home and
abroad.
HENRY VIII-MOST POWERFUL
TUDOR MONARCH– Increased Navy
– Started Anglican Church
Henry VIII’s Kids
Son-Edward VI took throne for a brief
time--Protestant.
Daughter Mary took the throne next
– Catholic!
– Married Phillip II of Spain and
restored Catholicism.
– “Bloody Mary” for burning 300
Protestants at the stake
Henry VIII’s Kids
Daughter-Elizabeth I
– England flourished culturally
(Shakespeare)
– People were loyal to her
– Restored Protestantism
– Social class was important
– Married to England
England under Elizabeth I
Conflict: Philip II (Spain) planned to
invade England and force a Catholic ruler.
Mary Queen of Scots was Liz’s heir to the
throne and she was Catholic. She and
Philip plotted against her.
Resolution: Liz had her beheaded.
Conflict: Angry Phillip sent the Spanish
Armada to invade England.
Resolution: England won!
ENGLISH MONARCHS
TUDOR MONARCHIES
HENRY VIII
1509-1547
EDWARD VI
1547-1553
MARY I
1554-1558
ELIZABETH I
1558-1603
James I of England
 Son of Mary, Queen of
Scots.
 England and Scotland
under same rule.
 King James Bible
 “the wisest fool in
Christendom”
 Anglican-opposition
from Puritans
 Problems with Spain
ENGLAND
CHARLES I, son of James I, was next
James I left Charles I with religious
and political conflicts.
Charles was very unpopular-disagreed
with Parliament over money issues,
placed areas under martial law,
allowed the quartering of troops,
claimed to rule by divine right.
Charles I
 Was forced to sign the Petition of Right
which limited his power.
 Ignored the Petition of Right and vowed to
never call Parliament again.
 Persecuted Puritans.
 Puritans fled to the American Colonies (the
Great Migration)
 Tried to force Anglicanism on Scotland
(which was Presbyterian)-led to rebellion
Charles I
 Called Parliament into session to get money
to put down rebellion.
 Parliament wanted to voice their complaints
so he dismissed them again.
 He was forced to call on them another time
for money.
 This Parliament met for 20 years-The Long
Parliament.
 Disagreements led to civil war in England
English Civil War
Cavaliers
– ANGLICANS
– ROMAN
CATHOLICS
– NOBLES

Roundheads
– SUPPORTERS OF
PARLIAMENT
– PURITANS
– NON-ANGLICAN
PROTESTANTS
– LED BY OLIVER
CROMWELL
OLIVER CROMWELL
Puritan Leader
Led New Model
Army
Defeated Charles in
1645 & 1647
Took over ParliamentRump Parliament
Established England as
a Commonwealth
ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
Charles I was
convicted of treason
and beheaded.
Cromwell ruled for 5
years (Protectorate)
– Military dictator
– Tried to establish
a constitution.
Constitutional Monarchy in England
Cromwell’s republic did not work.
After Cromwell died, Charles II (Charles
I’s son) returned to England and restored
the monarchy-the Restoration. (This was
also the rebirth of the English Culture)
Charles II nicknamed “Merry Monarch”
– Flexible, won control of New
Amsterdam-renamed it New York
The Glorious Revolution
 Charles II died in 1685 and his Catholic
brother James II took the throne.
 James II had 2 daughters, Anne and Mary,
who were Protestant.
 Parliament called for Charles II to step
down and declare Mary and her husband
William joint rulers.
 Called the Glorious Revolution because it
was a bloodless transfer of power.
William and Mary
SPAIN
 Phillip II-1556-1598
– Hapsburg family
– Son of Holy
Roman EmperorCharles V
– Catholic
– Most powerful
Spanish monarch
in history
 Enemy of all
Protestants
 Sent the Spanish
Armada to invade
England
Philip II & “Bloody” Mary Tudor
Spain
Philip II and Militant Catholicism
 Age of Spanish Greatness
 Inherited lands including Netherlands,
parts of Italy, part of the Americas
 Insists on strict conformity to
Catholicism and strong monarchical
authority
http://www.wga.hu/art/t/tiziano/2portrai/philip_2.jpg
Spain
Philip II and Militant Catholicism
 Driven by crusading heritage (Inquisition)
Spain saw itself as a nation chosen by God
to save Catholic Christianity from
Protestant heretics
Some spectacular wins and some spectacular
losses
Beat Turkish fleet
Suffered under British navy….
http://www.wga.hu/art/t/tiziano/2portrai/philip_2.jpg
Spain
Philip II and Militant Catholicism
 Spanish Netherlands were richest part of
his empire
Tried to strengthen control over Dutch noblemen.
They were Calvinistic. Philip II tried to crush
their resistance under
William the Silent – prince of Orange
Finally truce called but these Dutch provinces
began to unite and call themselves:
United Provinces of the Netherlands. – core of
modern Dutch state
http://www.wga.hu/art/t/tiziano/2portrai/philip_2.jpg
El Escorial
Phillip II’s grand castle showing absolute authority and wealth of his monarchy
The Escorial
The Town of Escorial
[30 km. Northeast of Madrid]
El Escorial Statistics
15 cloisters
16 courts
14 entrance halls
13 oratory
300 cells
86 stairways
9 towers
9 pipe organs
232 chorus books
73 statues
More than 1,600 scenes
11 cisterns
88 fountains
2,673 windows
1,200 doors
The Escorial Palace
A Section of the Monastery
& Gardens
(
one of the
largest
religious
establishments
in the world.
The Monastery Gardens: Close-Up
The View of the Countryside from the
Monastery Area
The Library Inside the Monastery
4,700
manuscripts
[many
illuminated].
40,000 printed
books.
Philip II’s Chapel
Stairwell Inside the Escorial
A Main Corredor Inside the Escorial
Philip II Died in this Bed
The Crypt Area
The Crypt of Philip II
Spain
Philip II and Militant Catholicism
 Reign ends 1598
 At that time Spain had most populous
empire in the world
 Controlled almost all of South America
 Controlled settlements in Asia and Africa
 Seemed to be the greatest power on Earth
 In reality, bankrupt, armed forces out of
date, and inefficient gov’t
http://www.wga.hu/art/t/tiziano/2portrai/philip_2.jpg
SPAIN
 The defeat of the Spanish Armada led to the
decline of Spain as a world power.
 Spain suffered from inflation due to the influx
of gold and silver from the Americas.
 Philip’s son and grandson carried on his rule
(Philip III, and IV)
 Charles II, Philip IV’s son was the last of the
Spanish Hapsburgs. Other European monarchs
plotted to take the Spanish throne
What are the obvious differences about what
happened in England with the Glorious
Revolution and what happened in France
with absolutism under Louis XIV?
In England – Parliament
survived and triumphed
In France – French king
weakened the power of
nobles and the ancient
legislature.