1. Crisis in Europe
Essential question: how did social, economic, and religious conflict lead to absolutism?

2. What is Absolutism?
A term for a monarch holding total power over a nation
An absolute monarch does not share any power with a legislature like Parliament or Congress
They also claim divine right or that their power comes from God who chose them to rule over the nation

3. Spain’s Religious Conflicts
Militant Catholicism
King Philip II “The Most Catholic King”
1500: Spain expelled all Jews and Muslims
Claimed Spain as Catholic Kingdom and declared allegiance to the Pope
Nation chosen by God to save Catholic faith

4. Protestantism in England
1558: Elizabeth Tudor becomes Queen
Leader of a Protestant movement once again in England
Defeated her half sister Mary Queen of Scots who was a Catholic
Established new “Act of Supremacy”
Only supreme governor of church and state
Politically tried to please everyone
Always sided with the weaker country in the battle between France and Spain

5. The Spanish Armada 1588: Spanish Armada sent to invade England
Wanted to bring the country back to Catholicism
Completely unprepared and defeated
Led to the downfall of Spanish control
Country eventually went bankrupt

6. Religious Conflict in the Netherlands
Calvinists and others resented the control of Philip II
: War breaks out
William the Silent led the Protestants (Calvinists)
Eventual truce was reached for 12 year period
Netherlands created own identity and established Republic with William as king

7. French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)
The Huguenots
French protestants
7% of population but 40-50% of nobility
Henry IV (Huguenot leader) becomes king
Converts to Catholicism
1598: Edict of Nantes
Made Catholicism official religion of France
Huguenots will be allowed to religious freedom to worship and enjoyed political privileges

8. Crises in Europe Inflation: Rapid Increase in prices
Brought about by demand for more land and food by the “Merchant middle class”
Goods from the new world flooded the market making things like gold less valuable
Examples.
Spain- Depended primarily on silver from mines and the deposits have become depleted
Italy- Decline from time of Renaissance trading due to Age of Exploration making other nations rich

9. Crises in Europe Witchcraft Trials
Witchcraft created fear for centuries
Inquisition made fear of it even stronger
100,000 brought to trial, usually single women
Thirty Years’ War (Treat of Westphalia)
Political and Territorial
Calvinists wanted to defeat Catholics and carve up Holy Roman Empire to create their own kingdom
Kings from across Europe met and agreed on territory drawing it out on a map

10. Summary
Answer the essential question in your own words using specific examples from the lesson:
Essential question: how did social, economic, and religious conflict in Europe lead to absolutism?