Age of Absolutism

1. Absolutism Core ContentSS-HS-5.3.3 Students will analyze how an Age of Revolution brought about changes in science, thought, government and industry that shaped the modern world, and evaluate the long range impact of these changes on the modern world.

2. I. REASONS Absolutism: monarch controls ALL aspects of government Divine Right Theory – God appoints the royal family to be His representative on Earth Age of Absolutism

3. II. What causes increase in royal power and Decrease in Fuedalism 1. Stability and Trade A. Decline of feudalism • growth of towns  new merchant class • supported king over nobility • more stability (good for business) • supported trade (good for nation)

4. B. Wealth from New World colonization • est. large natl. armies • mercantilism  power • C. Decline in Church powerkings able to assume more power • D. Conflict & Troubled times  let kings increase power to restore order • Religious wars (Thirty Years War ) • Territorial conflicts

5. Nations with Absolute Monarchs • FRANCE • Louis XIII & Cardinal Richelieu est. base • increase control over nobility & Huguenots • replace nobles w/ middle class in govt. • Louis XIV (1643-1715) -the Sun King • Sets example and standard for absolute monarchies • builds Palace of Versailles, becomes the symbol of his royal authority • increases army & frequent wars • Continues to give noble titles and increase control of towns, nobles and the church

6. Spain • Charles V • Charles had inherited large Spanish Empire including colonies in Americas • Charles became Holy Roman Emperor by buying votes to get elected. • His power was closely connected to power of the Catholic Church • Signed Peace of Augsburg after battle with Martin Luther.

7. Spain Continued • Spain under Philip II • Son of Charles V • Very Wealthy from Gold and Silver from Americas, makes Spain the Wealthiest Nation in the world. • To show power, punished those who refused to swear allegience or were suspected of being Rebels in the COURT OF BLOOD. (Spanish Inquisition). Used this to amass absolute power

8. The Spanish Armada -Queen Elizabeth was allowing her Sea Dogs such as Sir Francis Drake to raid Spanish ships. -England was also supporting Dutch uprising against the Spanish -King Philip infuriated and invades England, as he wants to restore Catholism to England. -Philip orders army to assemble a great fleet, known as the Spanish Armada -Spanish Armada was 130 ships and 20,000 soldiers, and was known as the Invincible Fleet. -The English defeated the Spanish Armada after sitting 8 English ships on fire and launching them straight toward the tightly packed Spanish ships. -Spains loss of Spanish Armada is major turning point in history, as England overthrows the Spanish as the dominant world Power.

9. Central Europe • Weaker Monarchies • not as unified as western Europe • feudalism stronger here a. less dev. of towns/merchants b. strong noble class (jealous of power)

10. B. Rise of Austria 1. under Maria Theresa a. increases army b. takes land from weakening Ottoman Empire • C. Rise of Prussia (Germany) • under Frederick II (the Great) a. most disciplined army in Europe b. alliance w/ Junkers c. increases taxation d. weakens Rep. Assembly

11. Sweden -rival to Russia, Prussia and Austria Queen Christina (1632-1654), unified Sweden by raising money selling almost 2/3 of the royal lands, which angered peasants King Charles XI (1660-1697) –established absolute rule in Sweden, won battles against Russia, controlled all of Scandinavian Peninusula, reclaimed former royal lands sold to nobles, killed in a battle in Norway with no heir, ending Swedish absolutism

12. III. RUSSIA A. Backwardness compared to W. Europe 1. closer to Byzantium than W. Europe 2. Mongol Yoke– Mongol control during late Middle Ages, cut Russia off from advances of Renaissance/Exploration 3. Extreme suspicion of foreigners a. no ice-free ports (limited contact) b. quarantined foreigners c. non-Russian customs outlawed 4. Strongly feudal

13. Ivan the Terrible -proceded Peter the Great. Expanded Russian territory. Transformed Russia from a medieval feudal state to an Empire. -Ivan's legacy is complex: he was an able diplomat, a patron of arts and trade, founder of Russia's first Print Yard, but he is also remembered for his apparent paranoia and arguably harsh treatment of the nobility.

14. B. Peter the Great’sReforms 1. Attempts to modernize a. brings Church under control of Tsar b. reduces power of boyars(Nobles) • est. middle class bureaucracy • insures loyalty w/ land grants c. increase taxes to modernize army • creates western-type educational system • new legislation • 1st newspaper • all beards to be shaven • western-type dress • builds new capitol: St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea (Window on the West)

15. Catherine the Great -longest ruling female in Russian history, followed rule of Peter the Great after she assassinated her husband in a coup. -she was an enlightened despot, gave up some absolute power and relied on the nobility to help rule. Russia grew and united under her rule. Her rule is known as the Golden Age of Russia.