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Explore the birth of modern states, religious conflicts, and state-to-state relations in 17th-century Europe. From the Thirty Years' War to French absolutism, delve into the era's pivotal events and their impact on governance.
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Europe in the 17th C • Birth of the modern state instead of a ruling monarch • Powers separated; creation of bureaucrats • Religious conflict between Protestant and Catholic continued • Political-economic issues in state-to-state relations emerged
Europe in the 17th C • Maritime countries of northwestern Europe became important due to overseas commerce • Central and eastern European states suffered reverses from wars, the Turkish menace, and commercial and technological stagnation • Royal courts sought to enhance powers over subjects • By early 18th C, monarchic absolutism was in force in every major country except Britain
Thirty Years War, 1618-1648 • First, religious intolerance, then struggle for territory, power • Started by Habsburg’s Holy Roman Emperor to stop Protestantism • By 1635, war became an international struggle • Treaty of Westphalia, 1648 • First modern state treaty: sovereignty not dynasty, secularism • Germany no longer political unit – many kingdoms/principalities The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, 15 May 1648 (1648) by Gerard ter Borch
Thirty Years War, 1618-1648 • Spain, the loser • Dutch Protestants gained independence from Madrid • Lost Portugal after 60 years of Spanish rule • Made peace with France 11 years later • Military and naval advantages used up • Government bankrupt • Domestic economy little or no development for 150 years • Condemned to 2nd in European and world affairs See notes for video
Theory and Practice of Royal Absolutism • Basic ideas: • Jean Bodin: sovereignty to remain in hands of one person or institution; laws given without consent • Bossuet: kings got their power directly from God Jean Bodin
Theory and Practice of Royal Absolutism • Cardinal Richelieu • Real founder of absolute monarchy in France • Raison d’étatsufficient to justify action by government • State represented order, rule of law, security • if it weakened, all suffered • Intendants: officials reported to ministers, beginnings of centralized bureaucracy • most of Europe soon imitated Paris Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu
French Government under Louis XIV • Louis XIV longest reign of any monarch • Incarnation of absolute monarchy - divine right • Age of France / Age of Louis XIV Louis XIV
French Government under Louis XIV • France set the pace in government, arts, lifestyle, military affairs, language and literature • Forced nobles to come to Versailles • Revocation of Edict of Nantes meant Huguenots fled France, with their wealth Engraving of Louis XIV
Wars of Louis XIV • Thirst for glory-conflicts with England, Holland, German states • Most important: War of the Spanish Succession • Tried to take control of Spain, failed • Unpopular, bankrupted the country • Treaty of Utrechtended the hostilities • New Spanish monarchy came from French Bourbon family • England was true winner of war • Controlled French Canada, Gibraltar • Rights to trade with Spain’s colonies in the Caribbean • Worldwide struggle between England and France for mastery of Europe • England became world’s greatest imperial and industrial power over the next 200 years
Strengths and Weaknesses of French Absolutism • Strengths • Strong king, wealthy country • Well-paid, disciplined officials • Versailles palace reinforced image of power Palace of Versailles
Strengths and Weaknesses of French Absolutism • Weaknesses • Spent huge amounts of money • Tax farming did not work • Church and nobility did not pay tax • Peasants paid for royal extravagances • Financial problems never resolved • Peasant resentment and discontent
Revolt Against Royal Absolutism – 17th Century England • James I • believed in divine right absolutism, alienated Parliament • Commercial, professional classes in House of Commons were politically savvy • Many thought he was pro-Catholic • Puritans were majority in House of Commons James I
Revolt Against Royal Absolutism – 17th Century England • Charles I • Refused to call Parliament because they would not cooperate with him • Scots revolted 1640 – he needed more tax money to fight them, so called Parliament • Parliament passed laws restricting royal power, took direct control of military Charles I
Cromwell’s Commonwealth • Britain evenly divided between supporters of king and Parliament • Charles I was tried for treason, beheaded • Parliament declared England a commonwealth (republic without a monarch) • Oliver Cromwell became chief executive; became unpopular • Instituted military dictatorship • Commonwealth ended with Restoration of Charles II Oliver Cromwell
Restoration and Glorious Revolution of 1688 • Power clearly in hands of House of Commons • Established cabinet system • Charles’s religious policy set off anti-Catholicism • Childless Charles succeeded by brother, James, a practicing Catholic James II Charles II
Restoration and Glorious Revolution of 1688 • James II constant insults at Protestants • All of England rebelled against King James • Glorious Revolution of 1688 • Ended Stuart royal family line • Dutch Calvinist William of Orange and wife Mary ruled Group portrait of the Seven Bishops whom James ordered imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1688, but who were acquitted of charges of seditious libel.
Significance of Glorious Revolution • Political and constitutional, not military or economic • Henceforth England was a constitutional monarchy • Bill of Rights – most concrete result – gave power to Parliament, independent judiciary, freedom of worship • George I – first of Hanoverian Dynasty, chosen by Parliament English Bill of Rights of 1689
Political Theory Two British political philosophers formed the basis of public debate on the nature of government • Hobbes Leviathan • State is created by Man and rules it by demanding absolute obedience • Rebels to be crushed without mercy for the protection of the rest • State and monarch derived sovereignty from the people, not from God • Uncompromising pessimism about human nature
Political Theory • Locke • Two Treatises of Civil Government – most famous work • All men possess certain natural rights because they are rational: life, liberty, property • If government does not do its duty, citizens can overthrow it • All made good sense to middle and upper class leadership • Most important political philosopher for English colonials America
Discussion Questions 1. List the basic characteristics of 17th century absolutism. What examples of absolute rule can you identify in 20th century history? Explain to what degree these regimes have the same characteristics as 17th century absolutism? Be specific. 2. To what extent did French absolutism or the English move to a parliamentary government affect ordinary people? Why did government forms not have more impact on everyday life?
