1. King or Queen has complete control over government & its people
The Age of Absolutism
16th & 17th Centuries
System of government
King or Queen has complete control over government & its people
Autocracy
Centralized Government
Nation states

2. Monarchs based their claim on Divine Right Authority comes from God
Absolutism
Monarchs based their claim on Divine Right
Authority comes from God
Similar to “Mandate of Heaven”
Monarchs are “Above the Law”
Common features- Strong armies,limited representative bodies, high taxes

3. Breakdown of Feudalism/ Rise of Nation states Continuous Warfare
Causes of Absolutism
Breakdown of Feudalism/ Rise of Nation states
Continuous Warfare
Need for money
Exploration
Declining influence of the church

4. Regulation of Religion & society
Effects of Absolutism
Regulation of Religion & society
Loss of power by nobility & legislatures
New government Bureaucracies
Huge building projects

5. 1556 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V divides empire
Absolutism in Spain
The Hapsburg Monarchy
1556 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V divides empire
Son Phillip II rules Spain, Netherlands & Italy

7. Promoted “Golden age of Spain”
Philip II ( )
Promoted “Golden age of Spain”
Wealth from colonies helped buildup military
“Great Defender”
of Catholicism
1588-Spanish Armada defeated by England (Elizabeth I)
1600’s Spain power declines
Financial problems

8. Spanish Armada Defeated
1588
Spanish Armada Defeated
"Protestant Wind"

9. Henry IV increases power of Govt. & decreases power of nobility
Absolutism in France
The Bourbon Monarchy
Henry IV increases power of Govt. & decreases power of nobility
Louis the XIII strengthens & builds up military
Cardinal Richelieu subdues nobles & Huguenots

10. "The Ultimate Absolutist"
Louis XIV
"The Ultimate Absolutist"
Known as “The Sun King”
Ruled for 72 years
Mercantilist policies
Built the strongest army in Europe
Expanded bureaucracy
Never called the Estates General
Persecuted the Huguenots
French Protestants

11. The Sun King

12. Built Lavish palace @ Versailles
“Gilded Cage” for nobility
His successors inherited enormous debts (costly Wars & extravagance)

17. 1480 Russian rulers drive Mongols out
Absolutism in Russia
1480 Russian rulers drive Mongols out
Early Czars Ivan III & Ivan IV (Terrible) used harsh methods to unify Russia & strengthen Monarchy
1613 Michael Romanov begins Romanov Dynasty

18. Ivan the Terrible kills his child & Heir

19. Toured Europe learning new technologies
Peter The Great
Grand Embassy tour
Toured Europe learning new technologies
Westernization/Modernization
Introduced western ideas
Laws, technology, culture

20. Built largest army in Europe
Won territory along the Baltic Sea
St. Petersburg becomes “Window to the West”
Major trading port & new capital

21. Centralized power
Reduced power of the nobility
Brought Orthodox Church under his control

22. Russia under Peter the Great

24. Early Checks on English Monarchs
1215 King John forced to sign Magna Carta
Limited King’s powers
1295 Edward I establishes Model Parliament
Lawmaking body
House of Lords & House of Commons

25. Parliament keeps the Monarchy in Check
Parliament successfully blocked attempted shifts to absolute rule
The Tudor Monarchs( ) generally worked well w/ Parliament
Ex. Henry VIII & Elizabeth I
                      
                   
Henry VII
Henry VIII
Edward VI

26. Had absolutist tendencies (Strong belief in Divine Right)
The Stuart Monarchs
Had absolutist tendencies (Strong belief in Divine Right)
James I & son Charles I Consistently clashed with Parliament over finance & foreign policy
Angered Puritans
                  
Mary I
Elizabeth I
James I

27. Known as the Puritan Revolution (1643)
The English Civil War
Known as the Puritan Revolution (1643)
Charles’s Cavaliers vs. Roundheads led by Oliver Cromwell
Charles I is overthrown by forces loyal to Parliament
beheaded in 1649

28. Cromwell & the Commonwealth
England became a Republic called the Commonwealth
At first Cromwell & Parliament share power
1653 Cromwell assumes Title of Lord Protector & rules as a dictator
Cromwell brutally put down revolts in Ireland & Scotland (Genocide)

29. Cromwell as Lord Protector

30. Restoration & The Glorious Revolution
Upon Cromwell’s death, Parliament restores Stuart Monarchy to throne
Charles II & James II became unpopular due to absolutist policies
Parliament fears return of Catholicism(James II)
Parliament overthrows James II & asks William & Mary to assume throne (Glorious Revolution)

31. 1688-William & Mary forced to sign English Bill of Rights is signed
Guarantees Parliament’s superiority over the Monarchy
England becomes a Limited Monarchy (Remains today)