1. Absolute Monarchy In this unit you will:
Understand the Definitions of Political, Social, and Economic.
Analyze the characteristics of an Absolute Monarch and analyze their impact the political, social, and economic lives of the people.

2. Political
Practice and theory of influencing other people. Distribution of power and resources within a given community. Exercising or seeking power in government, involving state or local government. Practice or profession of conducting governmental affairs.

3. Economic
Describes the factors which determine the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Explanation of why individuals buy certain products and how products are made.

4. Social
Having to do with society, culture, and attitudes. The everyday lives of people.

5. What is an absolute monarch?
Rule by ONE PERSON—a monarch, usually a king or a queen—whose actions are restricted neither by written law nor by custom.
Absolute monarchy persisted in France until 1789 and in Russia until 1917.
Today only Swaziland and the Vatican are absolute monarchies

6. A monarchy, (from the Greek "monos arkhein" -- "one ruler") is a form of government that has a monarch as Head of State.
The position of monarch often involves inheritance in some form.
Monarchy
Henry VIII of England

7. Characteristics of an Absolute Monarch
Ruled by one person
Rule is Hereditary or passed down through the family
Actions are not restricted by written law or custom
They believe their authority to rule comes from god

8. Rise of Absolutism Absolute Monarch Rise of cities Wealth of colonies
Growth of national kingdoms
Breakdown of Church authority
Growth of middle class
Decline of feudalism
Economic and religious crises
Revolts
Reduced power of nobles and representative bodies
Created new government bureaucracies
Regulated worship, social gatherings, and economy
Increased size of court

9. One theme = CONTROL!!! Control the government Control the nobility
-Centralize & create bureaucracies
-Reduce power of representative bodies
Control the nobility
-Increase size of court; regulate social gatherings
-Reduce nobles’ power in the government
Control economics
-Great works
-Economic policies centralized
Control power
-Divine right & regulate religion

10. Example: Louis the XIV 1638-1715
Intendants: Poltical
Government agents who collected taxes and administered justice (like FBI). They were under Louis’ control only and kept the gov’t centrally controlled.
Sun King Court: Social
Louis required all nobles to stay at Versailles with him and attend his daily routine. That meant being in his chambers when he rose and went to bed as well as attending meals. Louis was the sun king because everything revolved around him.
Divine Right: Social and Political
“The sovereign power of government should be proportionate to its mandate, and in the station he occupies in the body of human society that makes up the state, he who is the head should hold the place of God. For since God is the only natural sovereign of men, their judge, their lawgiver, their king, no man can have lawful authority over others unless he holds it from the hand of God .... The power of sovereigns being thus derived from the authority of God, it acts as the arm and force of the justice that should be the soul of government; and that justice alone has the natural claim to rule the minds and hearts of men, for it is over these two faculties of men that justice should reign.” –Jean Domat, Jurist
Economics & Jean Baptiste Colbert
Tariffs, expand manufacturing, fur trade

12. Royal Gardens

14. Hall of Mirrors

16. Hall of Battles

18. Royal Bedroom (King’s Chambers)
One of several

19. Furniture

20. Louis as Apollo

21. Louis as Cavalier

22. Louis as Sun King

23. Other Absolute Monarchs in Europe 1500-1800 Chapter 17: 410-439
Phillip II of Spain: Section 1
Charles I of England: Section 3
James I of England: Section 3
Maria Theresa of Austria: Section 4
Frederick the Great of Prussia: Section 4
Peter the Great of Russia: Section 5
Catherine the Great of Russia: Section 5

24. Formative Assessment
Find the Political, Social, and Economic policies of your Absolute Monarch.