WHAT DOES THE WORD ABSOLUTE MEAN? WHERE DOES THE POWER TO RULE COME FROM? WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

1. EQ • WHAT DOES THE WORD ABSOLUTE MEAN? • WHERE DOES THE POWER TO RULE COME FROM? • WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? • WHAT IS THE WORST THAT A KING CAN DO TO A PERSON? THE POPE?

2. The Rise of Absolutism in Europe, 1500-1800

3. Absolutism: • The exercise of complete and unrestricted power of government

4. Absolute Monarch – • a king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society, economically, socially and politically.

5. Divine Right – • The idea that the power to rule comes from God. Monarchs are answerable only to God. The people cannot question the will of the monarch.

7. Causes of Absolutism • Growth in trade • Feudalism declined • Rise of cities • Growth of national kingdoms • Growth of middle class • Decline in Church power • Rise of colonial holdings

8. Effects of Absolutism • Power of nobles reduced • Individual rights limited • Abuse of power & tyranny • A desire of the people to be free!! • The Enlightenment

9. Regroup • What were the years during which absolutism was at its height? • What “ism” had to decline in order for absolutism to rise? • How could a king protect a city? • Upon which group would taxes be levied?

10. Examples of Absolute Monarchs • Philip II of Spain • Louis XIV of France • Peter the Great of Russia • Frederick the Great of Prussia • Maria Theresa of Austria • Charles I of England

11. Philip II of Spain1527-1598 • In 1556 Philip II becomes king of Spain, the wealthiest, most powerful nation in Europe • Much wealth comes from American colonies • 339,000 lbs of gold in 1660

12. Philip II of Spain1527-1598 • Created 50,000 man army • Philip defended Roman Catholicism against Protestantism & Islam • Joined crusade against Ottomans in 1571

13. Philip II of Spain1527-1598 • Attacked Protestant England under Elizabeth I 1588 & lost • Loss severely weakened Spain • Spanish riches help stimulate a golden age in the arts

14. Golden Age of Spanish Art • 16th & 17 century art • El Greco & Velazquez • Used warm, bright colors • Focused on religious themes & on monarchy • Cervantes wrote Don Quixote

15. Philip II of Spain

16. The Decline of the Spanish Empire • Such a thing as “too much money” • Increase in population led to increase in demand for food & goods • Prices necessarily go up • Too much silver in circulation made value drop

17. The Decline of the Spanish Empire • Inflation: • Value of money declines (too much of an item lowers the value) • Prices of goods & services increases

18. The Decline of the Spanish Empire • To offset inflation taxes should be raised • The less silver in circulation, the more the value will rise • Spanish nobles did not pay taxes • Poor never could gain wealth

19. The Decline of the Spanish Empire • Without gaining wealth, the poor stay poor • With just rich & poor, & no middle class, there will be few businesses & few chances to save the economy • Because of high prices, Spaniards bought their goods abroad

20. The Decline of the Spanish Empire • Spanish money was flowing into the hands of Spain’s enemies • Philip also spent too much trying to control the Protestant Netherlands

21. Regroup • What was one of the problems that led to the decline of the Spanish Empire? • What is inflation? • What was one of the great achievements of the Spanish Empire?

22. Louis XIV of France

23. The Thirty Years’ War • Religious tension in Europe led to creation of Protestant Union & Catholic League in 1608-09 • Spark of war came in 1618 • Ferdinand of Austria tried to crush Protestants in Bohemia

24. The Thirty Years’ War • Protestants revolted & war began • Two parts or phases to war • Hapsburg Triumphs & Hapsburg Defeats

25. The Thirty Years’ War • Hapsburg Triumphs • 1618 – 1630 • Catholic Austrians & Spaniards crushed all • Catholic army allowed to abuse Germany as payment

26. The Thirty Years’ War • Hapsburg Defeats • 1630 - 1648 • Protestant Swedes joined war in 1630 & tide started to turn • Catholic France joined on side of Protestants!!

27. The Thirty Years’ War • France feared Hapsburgs more than Protestants • French Catholics sent to fight Austrian & Spanish Catholics • Wanted a strong France above all

28. The Thirty Years’ War • Results: • Germany wrecked after war • Population down • Economy destroyed

29. Thirty Years’ War • Peace of Westphalia (1648) • Catholic Hapsburg states weakened • France gained German territory • New method of figuring out peace: everyone sits down to negotiate (less resentment)

30. Regroup • What was the central issue of the Thirty Years’ War? • Where was the war fought primarily? • Why would the Catholic Cardinal Richelieu want to join with the Protestants in the war against Catholic Austria?

31. Central Vs. Western Europe

32. Frederick the Great1712-86 • Known as “Great” because of the success of his reforms • Reformed agriculture (brought in crop rotation, the iron plough and crop rotation) and justice system (court of appeals & lessened bribing of judges)

33. Frederick the Great1712-86 • Tolerated almost all religions • Personally directed the economy for the benefit of the army • Maintained large army through heavy taxes on the citizens • Peasant education only for reading & writing– did not want them to know they were in a bad position

36. Frederick the Great

37. Maria Theresa of Austria(r.1740-80) • Fought War of Austrian Succession against Prussia • Increased taxes on nobility—why? • Strengthened central gov’t at expense of the local gov’ts • Taxed church heavily and confiscated church lands. Threw Jesuits out of Austria

38. Maria Theresa of Austria(r.1740-80)

39. Peter The Great of Russia(r. 1672-1725)