The Rise of Absolute MonarchsUnit 5

Rise of AbsolutismFrom weak king to absolute monarchEnd of Middle Ages, kings of England, Spain, France, Russia, Prussia, Austria began to expand ruleFactors strengthening royal powerCrusades & other wars killed many feudal lordsRising middle class supported monarchsReformation gave monarch powers formerly held by the ChurchAwakening spirit of nationalism made the monarch a symbol of national unity

England1066 William, duke of Normandy becomes king (Battle of Hastings)Strengthened royal powerHundred Years War spurred English patriotismWar of the Roses middle class supported Tudors strong capable leaders

Tudors of EnglandHenry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth IExpanded central government; dominated ParliamentAnglican Church (Protestantism)Furthered economic prosperity & transformed England into a world powerAroused nationalismDefeated Spanish Armada in 1588Enjoyed immense popularity

FranceHundred Years WarSpurred national pride; spurred by Joan of ArcStrengthened & enriched the crownReligious Wars opposing Catholic and Protestant claims to the throneBourbon kings emerge (Henry IV)Cardinal Richelieu helps lead King Louis XIIIIgnores the Estates General (Parliament)Leads France into Thirty Years War in support of Protestantism; emerges a leading power

France cont.Louis XIV The Sun King; divine right, Letat cest moi I am the stateBuilt palace at VersaillesEconomic AffairsFinance minister (Jean Baptiste Colbert) furthered industry, built roads, canals, trading posts in India and N. America

France cont.Foreign affairsAcquired more territory through warPlaced a Bourbon relative on the throne of Spain.Upon his death, people were weary of wars, taxes, despotism leads to French Revolution

SpainFerdinand and Isabella united Christian Spain (1469)Defeated Moors (Muslims)Absolutism ruled without the legislature (Cortes); strengthened royal powerStaunch Catholics Inquisition hurt SpainFinanced voyages of Columbus; eventually acquired a colonial empire

Spain cont.Charles V Holy Roman Emperor controlled Spain, Netherlands, Sicily, S. Italy, Austria; failed to halt Protestantism in GermanySon Philip II Most Catholic KingFailed to stop Protestant revoltsFailed to halt English raids on Spanish shipsLost the Spanish Armada to England in 1588Decline of Spains prestige and power

RussiaRomanov family czars ruled Russia for 300 yearsPeter the GreatWesternized Russia (modeled after Europe) in areas of science, education, military, industryOrdered males to shave long beards, discard Asian garmentsGained seaports windows for the landlocked country

Russia cont.Catherine the GreatGreatly expanded Russias territory through war and agreementsMost educated Russian leaderMade 18th century Russia into a major power

PrussiaHohenzollern Rule (15th to 18th Centuries)Autocratic governmentExpanded militaryExpanded territoryFrederick the Great aggressive foreign policy (7 Years War); seized much territory

AustriaHapsburg family 18th C.Maria Theresa sought to govern efficiently and promote prosperityJoseph II Increased royal power; weakened noblesSeized Church lands; controlled ChurchAbolished local self-government

Summary of Absolute MonarchyAchievements weakened the nobles, provided strong central government, generally furthered growth of nation statesWeaknesses nations welfare depended on one person, sacrificed national well-being for personal or family interests, led nations into costly wars, disregarded the rights of the common people

Summary cont.Attacked by IntellectualsWriters of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason believed monarchsUsed brute force over reasonPerpetuated despotic governmentCreated legal and social inequalityPromoted ignorance and religious intolerancePrevented progress

Enlightened DespotsFrederick the Great, Prussia; Catherine the Great, Russia, Joseph II, AustriaSupported literature, art, music, science, education, some reformsHowever, autocracy, class distinctions, unfair taxation, and frequent wars undid any reforms they made