1. Absolutism in Western Europe

2. Characteristics Monarchs not subordinate to elected assemblies Nobility effectively brought under control Bureaucracies loyal to the king only (“nobility of the robe”) French and Spanish kings gained control of Catholic Church Large standing armies Secret police

3. Philosophy Jean Boudin (1530-1596)  Theoretical basis for absolute states  Only absolutism could provide order and force people to obey government Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)  Wrote “Leviathan”  Life in a state of nature was “nasty, brutish, and short”  Needed strong, benevolent ruler to bring order to society Bishop Jacques Bossuet (1627-1704)  Advocate of divine right of kings  God put kings in power, they are accountable to no one else

4. Wars of Louis XIV First Dutch War (1667-1668)  Louis invaded Spanish Netherlands (Belgium), gained some territory Second Dutch War (1672-1678)  Louis invaded southern Netherlands for their opposition in first war  France gained some more territory, especially region of Alsace War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697)  L of A: HRE, Spain, Sweden, Bavaria, Saxony, Dutch Republic  Formed to oppose another invasion  Balance of power  William of Orange brought England in against France  Ended with status quo antebellum

5. War of Spanish Succession Louis XIV’s grandson to inherit throne Europe feared end to balance of power France would become too strong Countries allied to stop succession Treaty of Utrecht (1713)  Maintained balance of power  Spain’s possessions were partitioned  Britain got asiento (slave trade)  New kings in Sardinia and Prussia

6. Europe in 1700

7. Compromise in Central and Eastern Europe

8. Differences Kingdoms less economically developed than in West  Brandenburg-Prussia  German states  Austria  Poland Landowners still controlled vast estates worked by serfs Serfs bound to land, not mobile Nobles avoided erosion of wealth that weakened nobility in France and England

9. Compromise In West, middle class had made the difference  Money could help finance their allies  Could supply people for fighting In East, middle class failed to develop wealth and numbers Balance in power between monarchs and nobles Created need to compromise

10. Leopold I of Austria

11. Tsarist Absolutism in Russia

12. The Exception Tsars gained absolute power with agricultural economy based on serf labor Romanov family bought loyalty of nobles Gave nobles complete control over classes below them Law Code of 1649  Consolidated various lower economic classes into one (serfs) Wealth came from aggressive expansion into Asia Peter the Great pushed Westernization

13. Peter the Great

14. Revolts Some periodic revolts against Romanovs Mostly due to decreasing power of peasants Cossack revolts in 1660s and 1670s brutally repressed Tsar was simply too powerful  Increasingly modern military  Creation of state bureaucracy based on the West  Russian Orthodox Church emphasized traditional hierarchy

15. Constitutionalism in Great Britain

16. The Stuart Monarchy

17. English Parliament Assembly of elites who advised the king Different from continental assemblies:  Members elected  Eligibility for election depended on property ownership  Members voted individually, not as a class Saw itself as a body representing interests of all people

18. Glorious Revolution (1688) Parliament turned to James’ sister, Mary Offered throne to her and her husband, William of Orange  He was from the Netherlands Parliament’s armies teamed up with Dutch invasion Kicked James II out of the country Reign of William and Mary was establishment of constitutional monarchy  Kings limited by laws of Parliament  Theoretical support provided by John Locke (natural rights)

19. William and Mary

20. English Bill of Rights Laid foundation for constitutional monarchy Listed rights of Parliament vs. monarchical power Examples:  No suspending laws without approval  Right of petition  No peacetime army  Freedom of speech  No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment  Parliament must meet frequently

21. Baroque Architecture

22. The Palace of Versailles Paris, France

24. Schonnbrun Palace Vienna, Austria

27. Winter Palace, Russia

29. The Residenz Munich, Germany