The Rise of Absolutism

1. The Rise of Absolutism How did the Age of Exploration lead to Mercantilism and Capitalism? How did the role of monarchs in Europe change in the 1600s?

2. Capitalism Emerges • As explorers brought back riches from the New World (the Americas) and traded with Asia and Africa, more money was in circulation • At the same time, prices rose in Europe • When these two things happen at once, it’s called inflation…this particular time that it happened in the 1500s it was called the Price Revolution. • This time period was a great chance for people to make money if they took a chance on a new business • Starting a business was a risk, but it could have a high reward • Entrepreneurs would invest in new business ideas and take the financial risk while others did the actual work of the business • Guilds could not stand up to this new system because they no longer controlled the manufacture of goods or the prices; they soon faded away • Mercantilism became the economic aim of European monarchs (kings and queens)… they believed • A nation’s wealth/strength relied on having physical supplies of gold and silver • Countries must export more than they import (sell more than they buy) • Colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country

3. What is true? What is not?

4. The Age of Absolutism • General Ideas • From about 1550-1800, European monarchs became more and more powerful • Before this, local lords or princes had power over their individual areas and shared control with the monarch • During the Age of Absolutism, monarchs started to centralize their own power by taking power away from everyone under them • The most famous king during the Age of Absolutism was Louis XIV, who once declared “I AM the state”

5. Philosophical Support • The Divine Right of Kings • Idea that a king’s authority comes straight from God, so to question him (or his right to rule) is to question God • 1651: English Philosopher Thomas Hobbes: • “During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war. . . In such condition, there is no place for industry . . . No arts; no letters; no society; and, which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death. And the life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” –Leviathan • According to Hobbes, what would the world be like if we were all left alone to take care of ourselves, with no government at all? • Do you agree or disagree? Why? • What is his solution to this problem? • Is this a good solution? Why or why not?

6. Thomas Hobbes…Calvin and Hobbes

7. Your Job: • You will now make a resume for one of the absolute monarchs during the Age of Absolutism • You must highlight the skills and qualifications that ruler had that made him/her a great (or not?) ruler • You must list his/her accomplishments while he/she was ruled • You must list the country and the time period he/she ruled • This will require using Microsoft Word and researching online. When you are done, you may email it to me or put it on a flash drive to print it out. • Work in pairs! • Websites: • http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Political-absolutism • http://www.biography.com/ • http://ph.infoplease.com/ • Rulers: • Elizabeth I - Phillip II - Louis XIV • Frederick William I - Peter the Great