1. Absolutism

2. More Power = Absolutism
One response to the crises of the 17th century was to seek more stability by increasing the power of the monarch. The result was what historian call Absolutism
Absolutism- Is a system in which a ruler holds total power
Was tied to the idea of the divine right of kings

3. France became the model for the rest of Europe.
Absolutism
The reign of Louis XIV has long been regarded as the best example of Absolutism
France became the model for the rest of Europe.

4. Cardinal Richelieu
Louis XIII’s chief minister, who strengthened the monarchy’s power (he basically ruled while Louis XIII was growing up)
He took away the Huguenots political and military rights (preserved their religious rights)
Set up a network of spies to uncover plots by nobles. He then crushed the conspiracies and executed the conspirators

5. Louis XIV came to the throne in 1643 at the age of 4
Cardinal Mazarin
Louis XIV came to the throne in at the age of 4
Due to the king’s age, Cardinal Mazarin, the chief minister took control of the government.
Mazarin crushed a revolt led by nobles
Many French people concluded that the best hope for stability in the future lay with a strong monarch

6. When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV took over supreme power
Louis comes to Power
When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV took over supreme power
At the age of 23, he stated his desire to be a real king and the sole ruler of France

7. He also fostered the myth of himself as the Sun King
“Up to this moment I have been pleased to entrust the government of my affairs to the late Cardinal. It is now time that I govern them myself. You [secretaries and ministers of state] will assist me with your counsels when I ask for them. I request and order you to seal no orders expect by my command. I order you not to sign anything not even a passport without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one.”

8. The royal court was established at Versailles and it served 3 purposes
It was the personal house-hold of the king
The chief offices of the state were located there
The place where powerful subjects came to find favors and offices for themselves

9. Louis removed them from the royal council
Danger to Louis
The greatest danger to Louis’s rule came from the very high nobles and royal princes
Louis removed them from the royal council
He also enticed them to come to his court, where he could keep them busy with court life and out of politics

10. Louis had complete authority and shared his power with no one
Anti-Protestant
Louis had complete authority and shared his power with no one
He pursued an anti-Protestant policy aimed at converting the Huguenots to Catholicism
His policy caused as many as 200,000 Huguenots to flee to England.

11. The economy and War
The cost of building palaces, maintaining his court, and pursuing his wars made finances a crucial issue for Louis XIV
Louis waged 4 wars between and 1713)
He was lucky to have Jean- Baptiste Colbert as controller- general of finances

12. Colbert
Colbert sought to increase France’s wealth by following mercantilism (favorable balance of trade)
Granted subsidies to new industries
Built roads and canals
Raised tariffs on foreign goods
Created a merchant marine to carry French Goods

13. Unfortunately his great-grandson was only 5 at the time
Legacy of Louis XIV
In 1715, the Sun king died. He left France with great debts and surrounded by enemies
On his deathbed he told his successor (great-grandson). “ soon you will be King of a great kingdom… Try to remain at peace with your neighbors. I loved war too much. Do not follow me in that or in overspending… Lighten your people’s burden as soon as possible, and do what I have had the misfortune not to do for myself.”
Unfortunately his great-grandson was only 5 at the time

14. Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe
After the 30-years war, there were over 300 German states
Prussia and Austria emerged as two great powers

15. The Emergence of Prussia
Frederick William the Great Elector laid the foundation for the Prussian state
He created a large standing army to defend the country
To maintain the army he created the General War Commissariat to levy taxes to pay for the army

16. The Commissariat soon became the civil government as well
Frederick 1
The Commissariat soon became the civil government as well
Many of its officials were members of the Prussian aristocracy, or the Junkers, who also served as offices in the army
In 1701, Frederick William’s son Frederick officially became King Frederick I

17. The New Austrian Empire
The Austrian Hapsburgs had been the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire
They had lost the German empire but then created a new empire in eastern and southeastern Europe
Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary

18. Hapsburg Emperor
The Austrian monarchy never became highly centralized, absolutist state, chiefly because it was made up of so many different national groups The Hapsburg emperor, who was the archduke of Austria, king of Bohemia and king of Hungary kept the states together

19. A new Russian state emerged in the 15th century.
Ivan the Terrible
A new Russian state emerged in the 15th century.
In the 16th century Ivan IV became the first ruler to take the title of czar, the Russian world for Caesar (emperor)
He was known as Ivan the terrible because of his ruthless deeds
among them stabbing his own son to death in a heated argument.

20. Michael Romanov
Ivan's death was followed by a period of anarchy called the time of troubles
This period ended when the national assembly chose Michael Romanov as the new czar in 1613

21. The Romanov dynasty lasted until 1917
Peter the Great
The Romanov dynasty lasted until 1917
One of the most famous members of the Romanov family was Peter the Great, who became czar in 1689
Peter was an absolutist monarch, who claimed the divine right to rule

22. Westernizing
Peter wanted to westernize Russia and he was especially eager to borrow European technology
Modernization of Russia’s military was crucial to make Russia a great power.

23. Cultural Changes and a New Capital
In an effort to westernize Russia, Peter ordered the creation of an etiquette book to teach western manners
He insisted men shave their beards and shorten their coats
Upper class women could remove their traditional face-covering veils and move out into society

24. St. Petersburg
He built a new city, St. Petersburg, to become the new capital. He wanted a capital that would be close to the Baltic Sea so he could have easy access to Europe. (he won the land after war with Sweden)

25. Military and governmental Changes
Peter created the first Russian Navy and he reorganized the army
To impose the rule of the central government more effectively, peter divided Russia into provinces
He hoped to create a “police state” a well ordered community governed by law

26. Lead by fear
Peter’s personality created an atmosphere of fear instead of civic duty
He wrote to one administrator, “according to these orders act, act act. I won’t write more, but you will pay with your head if you interpret orders again”

27. Name____________________________
6. How did Louis ensure that the nobles would stay out of his way?
7. What did Jean-Baptiste Colbert do to help the French Economy?
Absolutism
4. How did Louis XIV feel about taking control of the country?
5. What was Versailles? List its 3 purposes
2. Who was Cardinal Richelieu?
3. Who was Cardinal Mazarin?
Name____________________________
1. What is absolutism?

28. 10. Why was the Austrian Empire not very centralized and absolute?
12. How did Michael Romanov become czar?
8. What was the legacy of Louis XIV?
9. Who was the first king of Prussia?
11. Who was Ivan the Great?
13. Who was Peter the Great?

29. 15. Why did Peter the Great move the Capital of Russia to St
15. Why did Peter the Great move the Capital of Russia to St. Petersburg?
16. What kind of leader was Peter the Great?
14. How did Peter try to westernize Russia?