The Age of Absolutism & The Enlightenment

Age of Absolutism Summary The During the 17c and 18c, Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia were able to establish or maintain a strong monarchy, standing army, efficient tax structures, large bureaucracy, and a more or less domesticated, divided or loyal nobility so that this period is known as the "Age of Absolutism.“ England and France experienced very different political and social developments in the late 17th century French culture and political power dominated Europe in the 18th century One of the major reasons for the strong position of England from 1685-1763 lies in the supremacy of a parliament dominated by landowners and nobles of similar interests.  The 18th century became known as the “Age of the Aristocracy”. Therefore, this supremacy of Parliament provided Britain with the kind of unity sought elsewhere through absolutism. This time period saw the beginnings of the most crucial conflicts of the era, Britain and France fighting over trade and overseas colonies, as well as Austria and Prussia fighting over control and leadership of present day Germany.

Hobbes vs. Locke Thomas Hobbes believed kings were divine and should have absolute power over people because he believed humans were not capable of ruling themselves and humanity would collapse without kings diving governing John Locke believed that man has certain rights that we are born with and cannot be taken away by a king such as life, liberty and property and that citizens had the right to rebel against tyrannical governments

England 1 – James I: Supported absolute divine right 2- Charles I: fought Parliament, Puritans & Spain, abused power as much as he could 3 – English Civil War: Roundheads vs. Cavaliers 4 – The Commonwealth: the Cromwell brothers 5 – Charles II: religious tolerance for Catholics as long as they supported absolute rule, test act 6 – James II: how far can absolute go? 7 – William & Mary: Glorious Revolution and bloodless coup 8 – The return of Parliament: the end of Kings/Queens in power, Bill of Rights 9 – Whigs and Tories: political systems and Prime Ministers   

France Henry IV: gave power of the king away to the Huguenots (Edict of Nantes) Louis XIII: king at 9, tried to kill his mother, gave power to Cardinal Richelieu to kill the nobles and protestants Louis XIV: The Sun King, made France most powerful in Europe, “L’etet C’est Moi”, strong government, fight everyone, built Versailles, taxed only the poor, killed protestants Louis XV: 5 year old king, lost the 7 years war to England Louis XVI: excess and gluttony, Marie Antoinette, guillotine, Robespierre, French Revolution, “Let Them Eat Cake”

Robespierre & The Reign of Terror

Germany’s Conquest of: Bohemia, Prussia, Austria, Alsace Lorraine and Poland 1 – The Hapsburgs vs. The Hohenzollerns: the fight for Germany 2 - Maria Theresa and Austria attempt to consolidate Germany. The Hohenzolern wanted to expand east and take Russia and Poland 3 – Leopold II: Holy Roman Emperor and enlightened king of Austria and Italy 4 - Enlightened Despots: Rulers who believed that giving some freedoms would grant them unconditional power 5 – Frederick the Great: father killed his lover, anger made him great military mind, supported the new American nation

Russia 1 – Peter the Great: ended medieval times, embraced modernization & militarism, economic power in Europe 2 – Catherine the Great: art, France envy, support the people, make Russia high society, uncontrollable lifestyle, died on toilet 3 – Rise of the Czars: Rome in Moscow, emperors, supreme rule absolutism