Transcript Spain*s Empire and European Absolutism

Spain’s Empire and European
Absolutism
Powerful Spanish Empire
• Following Charles V’s death, he leaves Holy Roman Empire
and Austria to his brother Ferdinand and leaves
Netherlands, Spain, and American colonies to his son
Philip II
Philip II’s Empire
• When the king of Portugal died in 1580, Philip assumed his
territories(his nephew)land in Africa, India, and E. Indies
• Spain found much wealth in precious metals, and the king
(Philip) got a percentage of the profit.
• This wealth allowed the Spanish to recruit an army of
around 50,000 soldiers
Defender of Catholicism
• When Philip takes over the throne, there were religious
wars still rippling from the Reformation
• Reconquista- campaign to drive Muslims out of Spain (64)
• Philip thought it was his duty to protect Catholicism against
Protestants and Muslims
• On the pope’s orders, Philip II sends more than 200 Spanish
Venetian ships to defeat the Ottoman Turks
• In 1588, he sends a Spanish armada to England to punish
Elizabeth and her people for supporting Protestantism
• Philip II was very religious, and strongly supports
Catholicism
Golden Age of Spanish Art and Literature
• The wealth Spain had allowed more than just military
strength; monarchs and nobles were able to become
patrons of the arts also
El Greco and Velazquez
• El Greco (The Greek) was born in Crete, but grew up in
Spain
• His art was unique  clashing colors and distorted the
human body. He also painted religious (Catholic) figures
• Diego Velazquez painted the pride of the Spanish monarchy
nearly 50 years after El Greco
• Was the court painter of Philip IV
• Also known for using brilliant colors
Don Quixote
• Don Quixote de la Mancha was the first real European
novel
• His book discusses a Spanish man who went crazy after
reading books about knighthood and chivalry
Spanish Empire Weakens
• The gold coming from the America’s made Spain
temporarily wealthy, but led to long term problems
Inflation and Taxes
• caused by a growing population in Spain, and an increasing
amount of silver flooding the market
• Spain lost many artisans and businessmen because they
were expelled (Muslims and Jews)
• In addition, Spain’s nobles didn’t pay taxes causing the
lower classes to bear it  led to no middle class because
lower classes couldn’t start their own businesses
Making Spain’s Enemies Rich
• Guilds still dominated business in Spain
• These guilds kept Spanish goods expensive, so consumers
found a cheaper source
• In addition, Spain had to buy most of what they needed
from England, France, and Netherlands  Spain’s wealth
was dumped right into their enemies pockets
• To finance wars, Spanish governments borrowed money
from German and Italian bankers who were repaid in silver
The Dutch Revolt
• Philip raised taxes on the middle class in the Netherlands
• In response, Protestant (Calvanist) mobs swept through
Catholic churches
• In 1568, Philip sent an army to crush the rebellion and in
one day killed 1,500 Protestant rebels
• They fought for 11 more years, and in 1579 the Dutch
princes declared their independence from Spain
Independent Dutch Proper
• Different than the rest of Europe in that they: were
religiously tolerant, were a republic rather than a kingdom
Dutch Art
• Some of the best artists emerged in Europe emerged in the
1600’s, and many merchants sponsored these artists
• Rembrandt van Rijn was the greatest of the period
• He used contrasting light to draw attention to his focus
• Painted the middle class (The Night Watch)
• Jan Vermeer worked with contrast also
• He painted women doing normal activities such as pouring
milk from a jug or reading a letter
•  these two artists symbolize how important merchants
and the middle class were in 17th century Netherlands
Dutch Trading Empire
• The Dutch stored grain they bought from Poland, and in
times of famine in Europe they would sell this grain while
prices were high
• Had the largest maritime fleet (4,800 ships in 1636)
• They created the Dutch East India Company, which
benefitted from Asian spice trade, and Indian Ocean trade.
• Dutch eventually replace Italians as the European bankers
Absoutism in Europe
• While Philip lost his hold in the Netherlands, he was still a
strong leader who controlled every aspect of the empire
The Theory of Absolutism
• An absolute monarch is a king or a queen who holds ALL of
the power within their territory
• Absolute monarchs typically claim “divine right”
Growing Power of Europe’s Monarchs
• Decline of feudalism, growth of cities, and growth of
national kingdoms all helped centralize power
• The growing middle classes began to support absolute
monarchs because these monarchs promise stability in
business
Crises Leads to Abolutism
• Religious and territorial conflict led continuously to warfare
• Governments had to build larger armies, which had to be
funded by the lower class’s tax money
• These economic pressures led to peasant unrest and revolt
• To help contain the unrest, monarchs tried to expand their
already immense power by ruling over everything
• Absolute monarchs created bureaucracies to control their
country’s economic life
• Their goal was to free themselves from limitations that the
nobility brings as well as rep. bodies like Parliament
leads to absolute monarchs such as Louis XIV of France
Reign of Louis XIV
• Henry II dies in 1559, leaving power to 3 of his 4 sons. They prove
incompetent, and his wife Catherine takes the throne. Under
Catherine, France experiences religious wars between Huguenots and
Catholics
Religious Wars and Struggles
• 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris– 6 weeks slaughter of
Huguenots at Catherine’s daughter’s wedding
Henry of Navarre
• Takes the throne in 1589 and is the first of the Bourbon family to rule
the throne
• Catholics opposed Henry IV
• Henry IV converts to Catholicism, but allows the Huguenots to set up
their own Protestant churches and live in peace  Edict of Nantes
• Aimed to rebuild France economically
• While many loved Henry for his religious toleration and strong
leadership, one man stabbed Henry IV to death in 1610
Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu
• Louis XIII takes over after his father’s death (Henry IV)
• Was a weak king, but appoints a strong minister to
compliment his own rule
• Cardinal Richelieu tried to follow moral principles, but was
ambitious and loved having power of France
• Took two steps to increase Bourbon power:
1. Moved against the Huguenots (tear down walls)
2. Weakened the power of the nobles (down with castle walls)
• Wanted to increase Bourbon power and decrease Hapsburg
influence
Writers Turn to Skepticism
• The ideas that nothing can ever be known for certain
• Moved against the power of the Church
Montaigne and Descartes
• Michel de Montaigne develops the “essay” (after the death
of a friend) to express his thoughts and opinions
• Argued that when a new belief arises, it replaces the old
idea humans will never know truth because current
values will be replaced in the future
• Another French writer, Rene Descartes examines this
question. Descartes created a philosophy that led to the
scientific method, which would prove to be influential in
the Enlightenment
Louis XIV Comes to Power
• Took over the throne at 4 years old, and was the most
powerful ruler in French history
Louis, the Boy King
• When Louis XIV takes over, Cardinal Richelieu’s successor
(Cardinal Mazarin) is the real ruler of France. He ended the
Thirty Years War, but caused unrest among nobility by
raising taxes. Louis was often threatened, and he never
forgot it
• The nobles’ rebellion against Louis XIV and Mazarin failed
because: its leaders didn’t trust each other, Louis XIV’s
government used violent repression, and the peasant class
grew weary of fighting
Louis Weakens the Nobles’ Authority
• Cardinal Mazarin dies in 1661, and Louis XIV takes over at
22
• Weakened the noble class, and increased the power of
intendants (gvmt officials who collect taxes)
Economic Authority
• Louis XIV and his Minister of Finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert,
sought to regain economic status in France
• Colbert believed in mercantilism  export more than you
import
• Gave tax benefits to manufacturing companies, and placed
high tariff on imported goods
• Also stressed the occupation of French Canadian colonies
for raw goods purposes (furs, spices, etc.)
• After his death, Louis canceled the Edict of Nantes and
slowed economic progress in France
• In response, many Huguenots fled France which stripped
France of skilled workers
Sun King’s Grand Style
• Louis surrounded himself with luxury and exquisite feasts
Louis Controls the Nobility
• Nobles waited by Louis’ bed to greet him in the morning
and help him get dressed
• This made the nobility dependent on Louis XIV, and also
forced them to live in Versailles at the palace. By moving
away from home, the intendants gained power in the
countryside
Patron of the Arts
• Versailles was a center of the arts
• Louis was even interested in the arts, and supported them
to the extend that Augustus did in Rome
• The purpose was no longer to glorify God like in the Middle
Ages, or to glorify the human body like in the Renaissance,
but to glorify the King
Louis Fights Disastrous Wars
• In 1660 and under Louis XIV, France was the strongest
country in Europe with over 20 million people
Attempts to Expand France’s Boundaries
• In 1667 Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands, and gained 12
towns. Five years later he personally led French troops into the
Dutch Netherlands. The Dutch ended the battles by flooding
the countryside through opening the dikes. These battles ended
with 1678 Treaty of Nijmegen
• By 1680’s weaker nations had banded together in alliances to
stop France from dominating all of Europe
• France was weakened by poor harvests, taxes imposed by Louis
XIV to finance the wars, and constant warfare
War of the Spanish Succession
• In 1700 the Spanish king, Charles II, dies and gives the Spanish
throne to Louis XIV’s 16 year old grandson, Philip of Anjou
• Europeans were worried that the Bourbon dynasty would
become too strong since they now ruled France and Spain
• The long struggle by smaller European nations to keep France at
bay is known as the War of the Spanish Succession
• The war was dragged out until 1714, when the Treaty of
Utrecht was signed which stated that Louis’ grandson could
remain King of Spain so long as the two don’t merge
• Out of these wars, Britain took Gibraltar from the Spanish
and also gained access to the trading of enslaved Africans
• Britain also gained Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from
France
Louis’ Death and Legacy
• Last years were more sad than glorious  the people were
tired of the Sun King and his financial instability on France
• He was a great leader who made France superior in art,
literature, military, etc. but whom also collected economic
debt and royal abuse of power
• His heirs had to deal with his legacy, which would lead to
revolution in 1789
Central European Monarchs Clash
Thirty Years War
• Lutherans join forces with Protestants, and Catholics form the
Catholic League  leads to warfare
Bohemian Protestant Revolt
• Future HRE, Ferdinand II, was the head of the Hapsburg family
• Catholics didn’t trust Ferdinand II because he was Catholic and
begin to close some of the Protestant churches. Some
Protestants revolted, and Ferdinand II sends in an army to put
down the revolt
• This began the Thirty Years War, which was a conflict over
religion and territory: characterized by Hapsburg defeats and
Hapsburg triumphs
Hapsburg Triumphs
• The war lasted from 1618-1648.
• During the first 12 years of the war, Hapsburg armies
crushed the Protestant troops
• Ferdinand paid his army of 125,000 men which allowed
them to stay loyal to the Catholic cause
Hapsburg Defeats
• Protestant leader Gustavas Adolphus of Sweden fielded an
army of 23,000 shifted the war in 1630.
• Driving the Hapsburg Catholics outside of Germany,
Gustavas was killed in 1632. Cardinal Richelieu and
Cardinal Mazarin dominated the remaining years of the war
Peace of Westphalia
• The war did great damage to Germany- population dropped
from 20-16 million
• Trade and agriculture were disrupted, and their economies
suffered for it  why Germany didn’t unify until 1800’s
• The Peace of Westphalia ended the war (1648)
• The treaty had these ramifications:
1. Weakened Hapsburg states of Spain and Austria
2. Strengthened France by awarding it German territory
3. Made German princes independent of HRE
4. Ended religious wars in Europe
5. Introduced a new method of settling disputes
Beginning of Modern States
• The treaty abandoned idea of Catholic Empire, and
recognized Europe as a group of equal, independent
nations. This was the most important result of the war
States form in Central Europe
• Major powers of Central Europe were Poland, HRE, and
Ottoman Empire
Economic Contrasts with the West
• During the late middle ages, serfs moved from the manor
to the towns and rose to the middle class. In central
Europe, the aristocracy passed laws preventing serfs to gain
freedom and move to cities.
Several Weak Empires
• The landowning nobles in central Europe blocked the
development of strong kings. Ex) Polish nobles limit the
power of the Polish king
• The two empires, Ottoman and HRE, were limited in power
also due to their inability to further expand westward and
the Thirty Years War
Austria Grows Stronger
• One family, the Hapsburgs, took steps to become absolute
monarchs
• During the Thirty Years War, they captured Bohemia. Next,
they centralized government and created an army. Lastly,
the Hapsburg reclaimed Hungary from the Ottoman
Empire.
• In 1711, the Hapsburg ruler was Charles VI. He ruled over
the Austrian, Hungarian, and Bohemian empires.
Maria Theresa Inherits the Austrian Throne
• In order to ensure that Hapsburgs kept their rule over
those lands, Charles VI persuaded other leaders of Europe
to sign an agreement allowing Charles VI’s daughter to be
the heir to the throne.
• Maria Theresa was his daughter, and she faced years of war
with Prussia once she took over.
Prussia Challenges Austria
• The Hohenzollerns family ruled Austria, and they were as
ambitious for power as the Hapsburgs
Rise of Prussia
• In 1640, a twenty years old a Hohenzollern (Frederick
William) inherited Brandenburg
• The “Great Elector” created a standing army of 80,000
men, and funded this force through permanent taxation
• The landowning nobility, Junkers, didn’t like the growing
power of the kings. To appease the Junkers, Frederick
William grants them officer positions in his army which
created a very loyal, very organized military state.
Frederick the Great
• Frederick worried that his son, also Frederick, wasn’t
military minded enough to rule
• The son, Frederick, loved philosophy, art, and music
• In 1730, the son and a friend attempt to run away. The
father, Frederick, orders his son to watch his friend be
beheaded
• The son becomes known as Frederick the Great, and uses
that memory to be stern militaristic leader
• He does, however, allow religious toleration and legal
reform
War of the Austrian Succession
• In 1740, Maria Theresa succeeded her father (5 months
after Frederick II takes control of Prussia)
• Frederick wanted Silesia, which is a territory just outside of
Prussia
• He didn’t think Maria was strong enough to protect her
land, and sent in troops to occupy Silesia  this started the
War of Austrian Succession (1740)
• Maria Theresa seeks help from the British to aid the
Austrians against the French and Prussians.
• Although Maria Theresa stops Prussia’s aggression, Austria
did lose Silesia in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)
Seven Years War
• Maria Theresa allied Austria with France and Russia while
Prussia allied themselves with Britain. Both Prussia and
Austria switched allies, and for the first time Russia was
involved in European conflict
• In 1756 Frederick attacked the Austrian ally of Saxony. This
started the Seven Years War, which did not change any
territorial situations in Europe.
• The British emerged as the real victors of the Seven Years
War, France lost its American colonies, and Britain gained
economic domination of India.  this paved the way for
British expansion
Absolute Rulers of Russia
• Ivan III (r. 1462-1505) did many things: conquered
much of the territory around Moscow, liberated
Russia from the Mongols, and centralized Russian
government.
• Ivan III was succeeded by his son Vasily, and
eventually his grandson Ivan IV
The First Czar
• Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) came to power in 1533
• The boyars tried to control Ivan IV, but at 16 years old he
had himself crowned “Czar”  first Russian czar
• Married Anastasia, daughter of a boyar family
• Years from 1547-1560 are called Ivan’s “good years”
because he won military battles, gained land, created
Russian law, and ruled justly
Rule by Terror
• Ivan’s “bad period” began in 1560 after his wife Anastasia
died.
• He believed groups of boyars poisoned his wife, and
created his own police force to hunt down those
responsible. They dressed in black and rode black horses
• He killed many boyars and their families, and gave their
land to a new noble class in return for loyalty to him
• In 1581, he killed his oldest son who was the heir to the
throne. This caused his weak second son to rule after he
died
Rise of the Romanovs
• Younger son proved mentally and physically incapable
• time period after Ivan IV is known as “Time of Troubles”
boyars struggled for more power, and heirs mysteriously
died without explainable causes
• In 1613, Russian representatives met to choose the next
czar. They chose Michael Romanov, grandnephew of Ivan
IV’s wife Anastasia begins the Romanov dynasty which
ruled from 1613-1917.
Peter the Great Comes to Power
• Over time, the Romanovs restore order to Russia by putting
down revolts and creating a new law code
• In 1696, Peter the Great took the throne for himself (previously
split between his brother and himself) and would become one
of Russia’s greatest reformers
Russia Contrasts with Europe
• When Peter came to power, Russia was still ran under feudalism
with serfs and boyars
• Russia prevented serfs from leaving the manor and becoming
free
• Religious differences widened the gap between Europe and
Russia Russia adopted Eastern Orthodox Christianity from
Byzantines while Western Europe remained Catholic or
Protestant.
• Culture was different in general due to the fact that Mongol rule
in Russia had isolated them from the Reformation and the
Renaissance, and the seaport in Archangel was frozen most of
the year.
Peter Visits the West
• Peter believed in order to be stronger, Russia needed a
warm-water port
• In 1697, just a year after becoming czar, he began his
“Grand Embassy” to gain ideas and innovations from
Europeans  first time a czar had traveled amongst
“heretics”
Peter Rules Absolutely
• Peter returns from Europe and wants to adopt some of
their culture in Russia  “westernization”
Peter’s Reforms
• In order to make sure Russia witnessed change, Peter
began transforming his power into an absolutist ruler
• He brought the Russian Orthodox church under state
control by creating the “Holy Synod” to steer the church in
his direction
• He reduced the power of landowners
• He recruited men from low-ranking families and then
promised them authority and land for their loyalty
• He hired European officers to drill his soldiers on European
tactics and weaponry. To pay for the army of 200,000 he
raised taxes.
Westernizing Russia
• To westernize Russia, Peter took these measures:
1. Introduced Potatoes, which became the staple of Russian
diet
2. Started Russia’s first newspaper
3. Raised women’s status
4. Ordered nobles to trash their clothes and adopt western
fashion
5. Advanced education in arts and sciences
• He believed that education was the key to Russia’s progress
Establishing St. Petersburg
• Peter fought Sweden to gain a piece of the Baltic Coast to
ensure Russia a warm-water port
• In 1703, Russian troops occupied a new city on Swedish
lands and eventually called in St. Petersburg
• Building on a swamp was hard work, and Peter required
serfs to leave home every summer and come to work in St.
Petersburg to keep the city thriving
• 25,000-100,000 died from disease and bad working
conditions
• In addition, he required many nobles to leave their homes
in Moscow and move to St. Petersburg in order to settle the
new capital
• By his death in 1725, Peter had all but westernized Russia
and helped Russia compete with Europe
Parliament Limits the English Monarchy
• Queen Elizabeth of England battles with Parliament over $
• The struggle between Parliament and the Queen was the
main obstacle preventing absolutism
• This would lead to many conflicts in the 17th century for
England
Monarchs Defy the Parliament
• Elizabeth had no children, so her cousin James (king of
Scotland) inherited the English throne in 1603  England
and Scotland shared a ruler
James’s Problems
• He inherited the unsettled issues of Elizabeth’s reign
• Worst struggles with Parliament were over $
• He offended Puritans by not prohibiting Catholicism in
England
Charles Fights Parliament
• In 1625 James dies, and Charles I (his son) takes the throne
• Charles constantly needed $ to fund his wars with Spain and
France
• When they denied, he dissolved Parliament
• In 1628 he’s forced to call Parliament back into action. They
deny him further money until he agrees to sign the Petition of
Right, in which Charles agreed to four points:
1. He would not imprison subjects without due cause
2. He wouldn't levy taxes without Parliament’s consent
3. He wouldn’t house soldiers in private homes
4. He wouldn’t impose martial law in peacetime
• This was important because it set the precedent that the law
was even higher than the king  challenged absolute monarchy
in England
• In 1629 he again dissolved Parliament. To generate revenue he
imposed fees and fines on the people, and his popularity
declined year after year.
English Civil War
• Charles offended Puritans by upholding Anglicanism
• When trying to impose an Anglican prayer book on the
Presbyterian Scots, the Scots rebelled and threatened to
invade England
• In order to generate money, Charles called Parliament back
• This time, Parliament was out to oppose absolutism
War Topples a King
• Parliament passes laws to limit Charles power. He then
tries to have them arrested but they escape. The English
people swarm Charles’s palace, forcing him to flee north to
find supporters
• English Civil War lasted from 1642-1649 --Royalists/Cavaliers vs. Roundheads
• Originally, neither side got an advantage. The Puritans find
Oliver Cromwell to lead them, and in 1645 the tide of the
war turned in favor of Puritans. King was held prisoner in
1647.
• In 1649, Puritans brought Charles to trial for treason
against Parliament. He’s found guilty, and executed
• This was monumental because it’s the first time a reigning
monarch had been publicly tried and executed
Cromwell’s Rule
• In 1649, Cromwell abolishes the monarchy and est. a
republican form of gvmt.
• Cromwell immediately had to put down a rebellion in
Ireland. He seized their lands and homes and gave them to
English soldiers
• Fighting, famine, and plague killed hundreds of thousands
Puritan Morality
• Back in England, Cromwell and Puritans reform society
• Made laws forbidding sinful activities (sports, theater,
dancing)
• While Cromwell was devout, he believed in religious
toleration for all Christians that weren’t Catholic
Restoration and Revolution
• After Cromwell’s death in 1658, his government was
demolished and a new Parliament selected
• In 1659, Parliament votes for older son of Charles I to rule
Charles II Reigns
• Called the Restoration because he re-established the
monarchy
• During his reign, Parliament passes habeas corpus
• Parliament debates who to succeed Charles II. With no
male heir, Charles’s brother James is considered
• James was Catholic, so the Whigs opposed him but the
Tories supported him
• These were the first English political parties
James II and the Glorious Revolution
• Charles II died in 1685, and James took the throne
• He offended his people by publicly displaying his Catholic
faith
• James II appointed Catholics to high office, which violated
English law. He also dissolved Parliament for opposing
• In 1688, James has a son and English Protestants grow
weary that there will be a line of Catholic kings in England
• James’s daughter Mary was married to William, Prince of
the Netherlands. Both were Protestant, and Parliament
invited them to overthrow James II in what becomes
known as the Glorious Revolution
Limits on Monarch’s Power
• William and Mary agree to recognize Parliament as their
partner in governing  creates a constitutional monarchy
rather than an absolute monarchy
Bill of Rights
• To make royal limits on power clear, Parliament passed the
Bill of Rights in 1689. They stated that the ruler could not:
1. Suspend Parliament’s laws
2. Levy taxes without permission of Parliament
3. Interfere with freedom of speech in Parliament
4. Penalize a citizen who petitions the king about grievances
• William and Mary consented to all of these.
Cabinet System Develops
• After 1688 there was political gridlock  Parliament had to
consent to the monarch, and the monarch had to consent
to the Parliament
• During the 1700’s the idea of a “cabinet” emerged. The
cabinet was a group of officials who served on behalf of the
Parliament as well as the monarch
• Under the cabinet system, the leader of the majority party
in Parliament is the Prime Minister