1. Absolutism in Europe

2. Absolutism ruler has complete authority over gov’t and lives of people
causes:
- decline of feudalism
- church authority breaking [Protestant Ref.]
- support of middle class

3. Characteristics divine right claims - king chosen by God
attempts to control ALL in realm - religion, gov’t, social interaction
control over all finances
- decides how to spend $
- taxes, tariffs, colonies
massive bureaucracies
- citizens in gov’t positions [paid by state]
standing [full time] armies
- benefits vs. burdens

4. Absolutism in Spain

5. Spanish Empire – Philip II
inherited Spain, Portugal, Spanish Netherlands, American colonies
mercantilism  colony exists to make mother country wealthy [free Native American labor]
Am colonies sent:
- 339,000 lbs of gold
- 1 oz. of gold today = $1,201.20
- 16,000 tons of silver
- 1 oz. of silver today = $17.22

6. Philip’s palace, Escorial

8. Golden Age of Spanish Art and Lit
El Greco and Velázquez
El Greco unusual style to convey religious themes
Velázquez show Spanish court life
Don Quixote
1605, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is published
Novel marks the birth of the modern European novel

9. “Portrait of an Old Man”
This painting titled “Portrait of an Old Man” is considered a self portrait by El Greco, circa 1595–1600, oil on canvas.

10. The Assumption of the Virgin (1577–1579, oil on canvas, 401 × 228 cm, Art Institute of Chicago) was one of the nine paintings El Greco completed for the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, his first commission in Spain. This shows the religious themes of his painting.

11. Diego Velázquez: two self portraits

12. Portrait of Pablo de Valladolid
A court fool or jester, circa 1635

13. The Spanish Empire Weakens
inflation due to increase in gold and silver
taxes on lower class  no middle class
buying goods from enemies
Philip declares bankruptcy three times
Dutch Revolt
- Protestants in the Netherlands win independence from Spain in 1579
defeat of Spanish Armada [133 ship navy] by English in 1588
- 15,000 sailors die
- 65ish ships destroyed

15. The Dutch Prosper political model
Protestant  work ethic = thrift and frugality
- degree of religious toleration
stable, thriving economy  low inflation
masters of the “carrying trade”
- Dutch East and West India Company
- sell stock, share profit = corporation
“Golden Age” of artists [Rembrandt and Vermeer]
- religion and everyday life themes

16. 17c Dutch Global Commerce

17. Dutch East India Company, 1602

18. The Dutch in Japan, 18c

19. Dutch Ship in Nagasaki Late 18c

20. Dutch East India Ship, mid-17c

21. Dutch West India Company, 1621
Netherland Antilles

22. 18c Delftware Tobacco Jars

23. Fort Orange (Albany, NY) in New Netherlands

24. New Amsterdam (NYC) Settled in 1624.
Official Flag of the NYC Seal of the City of NY.

25. Early 20c Dutch Revival Building in NYC.
New Amsterdam (NYC)
Early 20c Dutch Revival Building in NYC.

26. Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp – Rembrandt, 1632

27. Oude Kerk [Old Church], Amsterdam
First built in 1300.

28. Interior of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam - Emmanuel De Witt

29. Catholic “Hidden” Church in the Attic, Amsterdam, 1630s

30. Patrician Houses Along the Canal in Leiden

31. Upper-class Homes, Amsterdam Early 1600s

32. The Night Watch – Rembrandt, 1642

33. Portrait of an Old Jewish Man Rembrandt, 1654

34. Sampling Officials of the Drapers Guild – Rembrandt - 1662

35. Girl with a Pearl Earring Jan Vermeer, 1665

36. A Young Woman with a Water Jug - Jan Vermeer, 1662

37. The Lace Maker Jan Vermeer, 1669-1670

38. A Woman Holding a Balance Jan Vermeer, 1662

39. View of Delft Jan Vermeer, 1660-1661

40. The Astronomer Jan Vermeer, 1668

41. The Geographer Jan Vermeer, 1668-1669

42. Girl Reading a Letter with the Window Open - Jan Vermeer, 1657

43. The Music Lesson Jan Vermeer, 1662-1665