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Absolute Monarchs in Europe
Chapter 21
What is Absolutism?
• Political belief that one ruler should have total (ABOLUTELY ALL) power– Despot-Ruler with total power– Absolute Monarch-King or Queen with total
power
What is Absolutism?
• Based on the Divine Right of Kings– God created the monarchy– Monarch is God’s representative on Earth– Monarch answers only to God.
Not to His/Her subjects
Louis XIV• Frances most powerful
ruler – Sun King– “I am the State”– Built Palaces at Versailles
to show his power and make other monarchs jealous
Causes of Absolutism• Long-term causes
– Decline of Feudalism– Rise of cities and
middle class– Rise of nationalism– Loss of Church
authority
Causes of Absolutism
• Short-Term Causes– Religious/territorial conflicts– Build-up of armies– Increasing taxes– Revolts by peasants or nobles
Religious Wars
• Conflict between Catholics & Protestants (Huguenots) led to EIGHT civil wars in France form 1562 - 1598
Religious Wars
• Thirty Years War in Germany
(1618 – 1648)
Key royal house
= Hapsburg
Religious Wars
• Thirty Years War in Germany
(1618 – 1648)
– Started when Bohemian Protestants revolted against the Catholic Hapsburg rulers
– Conflict over religion, territory & power of ruling families involved almost all major Euro. powers
Religious Wars
• Thirty Years War in Germany
(1618 – 1648)
Effects: – Devastated Germany’s Economy– Weakened Spain and Austria– Strengthened France– START OF MODERN STATE SYSTEM IN
EUROPE.
Some Absolute Monarchs
• Maria Theresa– Austria– Only inherited the
throne after other European powers agreed to recognize her as heir
Some Absolute Monarchs• Frederick the
Great– Prussia
– Believed that a ruler should be like a father to his people
Some Absolute Monarchs
• Philip II– Spain
– Defended Catholicism & helped stimulate art and literature
Some Absolute Monarchs• Ivan the Terrible
– Russia
– Took Power from the Boyars (nobles) after accusing them of poisoning his wife
There were Alternatives
• United provinces of the Netherlands– Religious tolerance– Elected governors
depended on landowners & merchants for power
There were Alternatives
• England– Parliament struggled with absolute rulers over
money, religion and individual rights
There were Alternatives• England
– Conflict eventually led to the English Civil War between Puritans and Royalists
(Parliament) (the King)
There were Alternatives• England
– English Civil War• After the Puritans won
Their leader, Oliver Cromwell
became a military dictator
There were Alternatives
• England
–English Civil War• The Monarchy was restored after his death…but it WAS NOT absolute
There were Alternatives
• England
– Glorious Revolution• William & Mary
came to power• They agreed to a
Constitutional Monarchy, where laws limit the rulers power
Effects of Absolutism
• Short term effects– Rules about social gatherings & religion
controlled the spread of ideas– Huge building projects– New government bureaucracies– Loss of power for nobility & legislatures
(Parliament)
Effects of Absolutism
• Long term Effects– French Revolution– Western European influences on Russia– English political reforms influence U.S.
Democracy