Define: Monarchy, Absolute Ruler,

Divine Right,

Vocabulary

Monarch- King or a Queen

Absolute Monarch- A political system in

which a country is ruled by a monarch,

who has absolute control.

Divine Right : The justification of

monarchy through the word of God -

monarchs used divine right to justify

their power

Answer the following:

How might having a king with total

power be a good thing? Explain your

answer

The Age of Absolutism

A period from 1648 to 1763 when European monarchs began to create powerful nations that placed unlimited power in the hands of the king and his/her advisors

The Rise of

Absolute Monarchs

What is an Absolute Monarch?

European kings had very little

power during the Middle Ages but

slowly gained power during the

Renaissance

Eventually, the kings in Spain,

France, Russia, Austria, & Prussia

had complete control over the

lords & commoners in their nation

Phillip II of Spain

Louis XIV of France

Peter & Catherine the Great of Russia

Maria Theresa of Austria

Frederick the Great of Prussia

How did kings go from having no power in the Middle Ages to becoming absolute

monarchs after the Renaissance?

I Am

I am _____________&____________

I wonder

I hear

I see

I am _____________&____________

I pretend

I feel

I touch

I worry

I cry

I am _____________&____________

Middle Ages (500-1300)

During the Middle Ages, Feudalism was very important:

–Feudalism divided society into clear classes (You’re either a poor peasant, a noble, or a monarch & there was little chance to move up)

–Feudalism provided order & protection for the common peasants

Middle Ages (500-1300)

In the Middle Ages, the Catholic

Church had unquestioned power

–Almost everyone was Catholic

in Europe so the pope served

almost like a king

–The church controlled peoples’

actions because church leaders

controlled access into heaven &

could excommunicate people

Renaissance (1300-1600)

But the Crusades, Black Death, &

100 Years War weakened the

power of feudal lords

In the Renaissance, kings gained

power & began to form strong

nations as trade increased, people

moved to cities, a new middle was

class formed, & mercantilism gave

wealthy kings lots of power

Wealth = Power

Protestant Reformation (1517-1550)

During the Reformation, critics

like Martin Luther, John Calvin, &

Henry VIII broke

from the

Catholic Church

This weakened

the power of

the church &

the Pope

Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)

When feudal lords & the pope lost

power, someone had to step up &

lead the people

People looked to their new

wealthy kings to create a sense of

order & act as figures of authority

As a result of this need, monarchs

were able gain almost absolute

(unlimited) power

Copy and complete chart using

review book page 91-96 Spain England Prussia Russia

Time

Period

Key

Leaders

Accomplishme

nts

Wars

Spain England Prussia Russia

Time

Period

1750

1682-1795

Key

Leaders

Frederick II

Peter the Great

Catherine the Great

Accomplishme

nts

• Creates a strong

army

• Unites Germany

• Establishes a

strong

government

• Catherine the Great

captures a warm water

port!

• Introduced western

technology, improved

education, developed

new industries,

encouraged trade

Wars

• 30 Years War

• Attacks Austria

Seizes territory from

Poland

Conquers land along

the Baltic

Copy and complete the following

questions using text pages 530-535 1. How old was Peter the Great when he took the

throne and became King?

2. What is westernization?

3. Define autocratic?

4. How did Peter the Great modernize Russia?

5. What is a warm-water port?

6. Was Peter the Great able to get a warm-water port

for Russia?

7. What were some changes Catherine the Great

made as an Enlightened ruler?

8. How did she treat the peasants?

9. Was Catherine the Great able to get a warm-water

port for Russia?

Complete the following Questions

“. . .The person of the King is sacred,

and to attack him in any way is an

attack on religion itself. Kings

represent the divine majesty and have

been appointed by Him to carry out

His purposes. Serving God and

respecting kings are bound

together.”—Bishop Jacques Bossuet

1. This statement describes the

philosophy that existed during the

1. Age of Absolutism

2. Renaissance

3. Industrial Revolution

4. French Revolution

“God hath power to create or destroy,

make or unmake, at his pleasure; to

give life or send death; to judge…and

to be judged (by) none…And the like

power have kings;…”

2. Which idea is described by

this passage?

1. enlightened despotism

2. Social Darwinism

3. constitutional monarchy

4. theory of divine right

Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)

Monarchs justified their right to

have absolute power by using the

idea of divine right—kings get

their powers from God, not the

people or a parliament

Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)

European kings were afraid one

nation would become too strong &

conquer the others; So they tried

to keep a balance of power

As a result, lots

of wars were

fought during

this time period Spain France

Define, Limited Monarchy, Magna Carta,

English Bill of Rights, Czar (Tsar)

Warm Water Port

A port is a place

where boats dock.

A warm water port is

important because it

does not freeze.

This is important

because it allows for

boats dock all year

around. How will this

warm water port

allow Russia to

continuously make

money…

Old Russia Westernized Russia

Constitutional

Monarchy

Theory/Ideology

Theory of Constitutional Monarchy

– This governmental system was established

to stop Absolute Monarchs from controlling

a country without proper representation

– CM allows the citizens of the country to

have a role in the leadership hierarchy

– The Monarch would have a leadership role

in this system but most of the power lies

within a constitution

Structure/Fuctionality

Constitutional Monarchy Hierarchy

– Monarch: Role is symbolic, representing

the nation, signing bill into law

– Prime Minister: Role is to run the

everyday governmental policies using

constitutional law

– Cabinet Members: They are the head of

ministers or cabinets that report to Prime

Minister and Monarch

Constitutional Monarchies

Around the World

– United Kingdom

– India

– Canada

– Jordan

– Sweden

– Australia