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Absolute Monarchs in Europe. Ch 21. What is an absolute monarch?. What are the benefits and drawbacks of having an absolute ruler?. Where does the American President get his power from?. Where does an absolute monarch get his power from?. Absolutism.
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What are the benefits and drawbacks of having an absolute ruler?
Absolutism • Absolute monarchs- held all power within their states’ boundaries • Divine right-God created the monarchy and the monarch is God’s representative on earth
Causes of Growing Power of the Monarchs • Decline of feudalism • Rise of cities • Growth of national kingdoms • Support from the middle class • Reformation • Religious and territorial conflict
Characteristics of an Absolute Monarch • Centralize power in their states • Total power of their land and people • Transmission of power is hereditary and marital • Extravagant lifestyle • Constant warfare • Always trying to expand their empires
Spain’s Empire Sec 1
Charles V Inherited Spain, the Spanish colonies in America, parts of Italy, and lands in Austria and the Netherlands Was elected Holy Roman Emperor and ruled most of Germany Background
Philip II -Inherited Spain, Spanish Netherlands, and the American colonies from his father Charles V He created an empire that circled the globe by seizing the Portuguese kingdom that included lands in Africa, India, and the East Indies Philip II
By 1600, American mines provided 339,000 pounds of gold Between 1550 and 1650, 16,000 tons of silver was brought to Spain Between ¼ and 1/5 of every ship went to the king Philip used the money to build a huge granite palace Extreme Wealth
Great wealth allowed monarchs and nobles to become patrons of the arts El Greco and Velazquez Don Quixote Golden Age of Art and Literature
Philip was an extremely devout Catholic Philip believed it was his job to protect the empire from the Moors and from Protestants Catholicism
In 1588, Philip II sent 130 ships to England to punish the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I Better tactics and guns allowed the English to win Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Elizabeth the Golden Age • Battle Scene
Severe inflation-decline in the value of money accompanied by a rise in prices Nobles did not have to pay taxes Philip declared the Spanish state bankrupt 3 different times Dutch Revolt Spanish Empire Weakens
Prosper without the Spanish Religious toleration Republic not a kingdom Each province had an elected governor Netherlands
Reign of Louis XIV Sec 2
1559-King Henry II died leaving 4 young sons 3 came to rule but all were incompetent Their mother Catherine de Medicistried to hold everything together War between the Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants) kept the country unstable Background
Married Catherine’s daughter After Catherine and the last of her sons dies Henry IV became king 1st king of the Bourbon dynasty Converted to Catholicism to keep peace in the country Henry IV
Edict of Nantes- Declaration of religious tolerance Allowed the Huguenots to live in peace in France and set up places of worship Assassinated in 1610 by religious fanatic who was upset with his compromises Edict of Nantes
Henry IV’s son Louis XIII was a weak king but he had a strong minister Richelieu was basically the leader of France Leader of the Catholic Church Took 2 steps to increase the power of the monarchy Forbid Huguenots to have walls around their cities Made the nobles take down their fortified castles Louis XIII and Richelieu
Skepticism- philosophical movement that began in France following the religious wars Belief that nothing can be known for sure Descartes-skeptic who became an important thinker in the Enlightenment Skepticism
Louis XIV- most powerful ruler in French history Became king in 1643 at the age of 4 Cardinal Mazarin rules until 1661 Louis further weakens the nobility by no longer allowing them in his council Goal is economic growth “I am the state” Louis XIV
Known as the Sun King because he believed that all power radiated from him Spent a fortune to surround himself in luxury 500 cooks, waiters, and servants to satisfy his needs Kept the nobility at his palace to serve him Patron of the arts By 1660, France is the most powerful country in the world The Sun King
$2.5 billion in 2003 dollars 36,000 laborers 6,000 horses Can accommodate 5,000 people including servants 500 meters long Set on 19262 acres (bigger than Paris or Manhattan) 700 rooms 2,000 windows 1,250 fireplaces 67 staircases Palace at Versailles