1 / 14

Absolute Monarchy

Absolute Monarchy. Objective: Identify what factors allowed absolute monarchs to gain power in Europe. Factors leading to Absolute Monarchs. Crusades killed many feudal lords Rising middle class supported monarch to protect property and trade

cargan
Download Presentation

Absolute Monarchy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Absolute Monarchy Objective: Identify what factors allowed absolute monarchs to gain power in Europe.

  2. Factors leading to Absolute Monarchs • Crusades killed many feudal lords • Rising middle class supported monarch to protect property and trade • Reformation gave powers formerly held by Catholic Church • Spirit of nationalism made monarch a symbol of unity

  3. Divine Right • King ruled by God’s authority • Obedience to king was obedience to God • King could do no wrong

  4. Rise of the Nation-State • Began when a strong ruler expanded control to a larger area • Eventually, monarch rule free from external political or religious control • In England and France the monarch united people of a common nationality (similar language, customs, history) • People transferred loyalty from local lord to monarch & nation

  5. Case Study: Absolute Monarchy France • Louis XIV (Bourbon Dynasty) 1638-1715 • Most powerful monarch in French history • Dissenters and critics were punished • Interfered in economic and religious lives of his subjects • Demanded the Huguenots (French Protestants) convert to Catholicism or leave • Built magnificent Palace of Versailles

  6. Palace of Versailles • Cost of palace weakened French finances • Became ideal of European royalty • French became language of diplomacy throughout Europe

  7. Jean Colbert • Louis XIV’s most outstanding financial advisor • Promoted Mercantilism: economic system based on idea that a country’s wealth is measured by amt. of gold & silver it has • Caused gov’t interference in nation’s industry & trade

  8. Conclusion • Louis XIV involved France in series of wars to expand French Frontier • In the end, his aggressive actions served to unite rest of Europe against France • France was left bankrupt & exhausted

  9. England: A Case Study in Limited Monarchy Monarchs not able to establish absolute rule Middle Ages: strong checks placed on king’s authority King John (1167-1216) – heavy taxes & abuses of power Nobles and church threatened civil war and forced him to sign the Magna Carta

  10. Magna Carta“Great Charter” (Latin) • Trial by jury for all freemen (small number in 1215) • Right to a trial • King can not levy taxes without agreement of people • Power of the law is greater than the power of the king • Considered the cornerstone of English democracy and later became basis for English political liberties

  11. The Tudor Dynasty: ‘Almost’ Absolute Monarchy Henry VIII (1491-1547)- broke with church because Pope refused to grant him a divorce to Spanish wife: Catherine of Aragon Induced parliament to pass “Act of Supremacy” which instituted independent Anglican Church of England with king as religious leader Married Anne Boleyn, their daughter later became Queen Elizabeth I

  12. Elizabeth I Queen of England (1558-1603) Encouraged trade, art, & literature Transformed England into leading world power Preserved Protestantism in England

  13. Key Difference in England Legislative Assembly : Parliament made up of House of Lords and House of Commons Tudors in England allowed the English parliament to retain its powers to make laws and levy taxes Henry VIII & daughter Elizabeth I were almost absolute rulers because they controlled parliament with persuasion, flattery, bribery, or bullying

  14. Absolute Monarchy: A Summary Strengths Weaknesses One nation’s welfare was dependent on one person Often sacrificed national interest for king’s personal interest Countless wars Disregarded needs of common people • Weakened forces that tended to disunite a country • Provided strong central government • Furthered the growth of national states

More Related