Absolute Monarchy vs. Constitutional Monarchy (summing up)

Absolute Monarchy A government in which the ruler has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society Divine-Right

Attempts to create a common culture / religion Ruler Philip II Louis XIV Peter I Dates / Country/ Dynasty Spain / Hapsburg France / Bourbon / 1648 - 1715 Russia / Romanov 1696 - 1725 Religion Catholic Eastern Orthodox Attempts to create a common culture / religion Fights Protestants / Jews/ Muslims in empire expels them “Most Catholic King” Gold from new world funds Golden Age Repeals Edict of Nantes (expelling Huguenots) Funds the Arts to make France a cultural leader Colbert increases mercantilistic control of goods and infrastructure Abolishes Patriarchs & creates “Holy Synod” Westernization of culture and learning Attempts to increase kings / decrease nobles’ power Did not rely on nobles to administer his kingdom Declares “I am the state” and rules according to Divine-Right policy Forces nobles to live with him at Versailles to keep them in check The “Sun King” Forces boyars to work for the government in order to keep their land & position Create a new bureaucracy loyal only to king Uses Intendants (middle class officials) instead of nobles to run government Creates a new class of nobles loyal only to him called Dvorianie Table of Ranks! Wars of expansion Attempts invasion of England  Spanish Armada destroyed Tries to conquer the Netherlands –(fails) War of Spanish Succession – tries to ensure his grandson will inherit Spain and France (unsuccessful) Fights Sweden to gain a “Window on the West” or Baltic Port for European trade he names “St. Petersburg”

Louis XIV’s Legacy Versailles French Colonial Empire Absolute power to French Kings Resentment of Nobles High taxes on Poor Costly – Mostly unsuccessful wars to dominate Europe French Art / Fashion

Colonial Empire Louis and the arts

Peter the Great’s Legacy St. Petersburg – Window on West 1st Newspaper Raised women’s status Modern education and technology to Russia 1st Navy Westernization – adopted European styles making Russia more a part of Western Europe

Philip II’s Legacy Gold / silver brought in from Americas funds Spain’s Golden Age Cervantes: Don Quixote / El Greco Gold / Silver  Inflation Expulsion of Middle class Jews / Muslims  economic decline Wars against Protestants in Netherlands and England  Economic decline and defeat of Armada Dutch win Independence Golden Age

Constitutional Monarchy A government in which the ruler’s power is limited by laws (the king or queen cannot break or change these laws at will)

England Parliament has rights the king can’t overrule Magna Carta (1215) English Civil War (1640’s) Glorious Revolution (1688) English Bill of Rights (1689) – kings must obey the laws created by Parliament – signed by William of Orange & Mary