Download - Absolutism and the Modern State
1589-1715
Absolutism and the Modern State
1. Demographic changes2. Drop in Trading3. Lack of communication between monarchs
and subjects4. Constant presence of the nobility5. Warfare 6. Popular Revolts
Lower class Economic based
C0mmon Crises
1. Greater taxation2. Growth in the armed forces3. larger, more efficient bureaucracies4. increased ability to demand obedience
from subjects5. Development of a sovereign state
Common Achievements
Break into groupsread Hobbes’ LeviathanAll groups answer questions
Review Questions as a class
The Theories of Absolutism
r. 1643-1715
Louis XIV and the “Age of Magnificence”
Born 1639, dies 1715Father is Louis XIII, Mother Anne of Austria is
regent, Cardinal Jules Mazarin is advisorThe Regent Rule (1643-1661)
Kept French armies in The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)
The Frondes (1648-1653)Try to increase taxesCourt flees Paris in 1649
Ascent to the Throne
How does Louis XIV portray himself?
The Reign of Louis XIVPersonality Traits of
Louis XIV
Claims a divine right to ruleIdeas on decision makingSpecial police forceSelect loyal officialsBuilds a regime on ceremony
Absolute Tendencies
MercantilismIdea by Jean-Baptiste ColbertGoal:Main Ideas
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Economic Policies
The Court of Louis XIVVersailles Palace,
built 1669-1686Treatment of the
nobility “Book of Manners”Characteristics of
Court life
1659: Expands Military1667: Invades Flanders1672: Invades Netherlands1681: invades Lorraine territory1701-1713: War of Spanish Succession1701: Forms a Grand Alliance1713: Peace of Utrecht
Significance:
Louis XIV’s Wars
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685Edict of Fontainbleu
Jansenists
Persecution of Minorities
Limits of Absolutism
Peter the Great
Watch A&E Biography on Peter the Great
Answer questions on sheet
Formation of Eastern European Absolutism
Politics Economics Military Culture/Society
Peter the Great
Taxes on everythingRussia divided into 8 districts
Academy of Sciences (1721)Names himself head of the Orthodox ChurchHoly SynodChanges to Western calendar
Hapsburgs
Frederick William the Great Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick William I
Essay Practice
1600-1750
The Culture of the Aboslutist Period
1603-1688
The Rise and Fall of Absolutism in England
James I of England (r. 1603-1625)Born 1566 in
Scotland
Mother, Mary Queen of Scots, abdicated throne in 1567 and James becomes James VI of Scotland
Name Change: Becomes James I of England
Unprepared for the throne
Believed in the Divine Right to Rule
Ascent to the English throne
James I view of Parliament
What powers does House of Commons have? King? Justification for each? Was compromise possible?
Raising revenue
Appointments of unpopular advisors
Attempted impeachments
Conflicts with Parliament
Issue of Foreign Relations
Spain
Marriages
James I and Foreign Relations
Complaints against the kingControlled by PopeToo “tax happy”Kings lieutenants are exceeding their powerMerchants cannot trade freely
Divisions within society Religious divisions
PuritansArminians
Class divisionsParliament supporters: “Country,” poorKing supporters: court, titled nobles
Charles I (r. 1625-1649) and the Fall of Absolutism
1625: forced loans on landowners w/o Parliament consent
1626: jails those who do not comply with loans1628: Petition of Right passed1629: Parliament dissolved1634: Ship Tax 1637: forced Prayer Book on Scotland
Scots rebel1639: Forced London to pay for war
Parliament will, only if they can reconvene1640: Parliament reconvened, refused to pay, and are
dissolved again
Divisions within Parliament
Parliament refuses to pass laws
Charles calls the army in
SidesCavaliersRoundheads
War of words
Beginnings of the English Civil War
Battle of Marston Moore
Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army
Divisions within Parliament 1. religious
Presbyterians Independents
2. reformersLevellersDiggers
Death of the King
Parliament triumphs
Government of Oliver Cromwell (r. 1649-1658)Domestic policyForeign policy
Charles II (r. 1661-1685)Navigation ActsDutch WarsColonization of US and Canada
James II (r. 1685-1688)Resurgence of Catholicism Glorious Revolution
Restoration of the Monarchy
Handed to William and Mary (r. 1688-1702)
Limitations on the crown
Role Parliament plays
Implications for the future
The English Bill of Rights, 1688
The Dutch Republic
Background and Structure to the Dutch State
Background Incorporated into the Holy
Roman Empire in 800 Passed off to Spanish rule in
1555 Split in 1581 Northern half recognized
independence in 1609 Southern half recognized
independence in 1648Structure
Oligarchies States General
Definition Duties
Stadholders
1609- Amsterdam Public Bank OpensShifting attitude towards the profession of
bankingFertile land is good for economyRise in populationBuilding of canalsTulip production
The Expanding Economy
The Dutch East India Trading Companies
Expand markets to Europe and East Indies
Specialize in Bulk Goods
The Role of Dutch Merchants
1. ReligionPromote Religious tolerationHuguenot MigrationJewish migration
2. Attitudes towards…HomelessnessEconomyDutch success
Dutch Culture
Wars with England drained the Dutch economy
Invasions of Louis XIVSouthern half partitioned to Austria in 1713Shift in Government control
Decline of Dutch Republic
Government structure kept one from gaining too much power
Do not want to repeat the government of their mother country
General attitudes towards culture and humanity prevented an absolute leader from rising up
Became successful on their own – without government intervention
What made them immune to absolutism?
The Ottomans
1350: Attempts for Hungary1423: Venice1462: Romania and Eastern Europe1526: Hapsburg Empire1672: Poland1700s: various wars with Russia
Major Battles with the Europeans
1618-1648
The Thirty Years War
Precipitated by Religious divisions and politics
Last “War of Religion”
Cripples the HRE – no united Germany
Creates better defined system of sovereign states
At the end of the war, France, Spain, and England gain prestige.
Spanish and HRE influence diminishes
Big Picture
The Holy Roman Empire
HRE is a loose confederation of over 1000 states and cities
Federal StructureEmperor is head of state Chancery for foreign policyImperial Diet – Parliament
Peace of Augsburg
Background
Order established at Peace of Augsburg is challenged byIntroduction of CalvinismKings breaking Provisions
Emperors/princes try to roll back Protestant RightsRudolf II (r. 1576-1612)Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria
Transylvania and Hungary revoltRudolf challenged by brother Matthias (r. 1612-
1619)Protestant League (1608) and Catholic League
(1609) are formed in response to religious tension
Origins
Start of the War/Bohemian Phase(1618-1625)
Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, imposes limits on Protestants
Defenestration of Prague, 1618
Bohemian crown offered to Calvinist Frederick of Palatinate
Ferdinand II becomes emperor in 1619 Secures help from Spanish
and Catholic League Wins battle of White
Mountain 1620, gaining control of Bohemia, Central and East HRE.
Danish Phase (1625-1630)Christian IV of Denmark
invades looking to help Protestants and to gain territory
Defeated by Albrecht Wallenstein, Bohemian noble and best Catholic general
Treat of Lubeck, 1629Ferdinand becomes even
more repressiveProtestants expelled/lands
confiscatedEdict of Restitution, 1629
Catholic successes alarm Protestant countriesGustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden
Motivated by:FaithTerritorial gainDesire to kick butt
Gains territories back 1629-1632Wallenstein recalled
Battle of Lutzen, 1632Adolphus dies, Catholics regain territories
Swedish Phase (1629-1635)
French Phase (1635-1648)French had been
aiding Protestants throughout war
Finally enter war directly in 1635 by declaring war on Spain and sending troops to Germany
Cardinal Richelieu’s justification Raison d’etat
Protestants make a comeback because of the French
Tired of war, they try to make peaceSpain bankrupt/Civil WarSweden losing troops/unhappy populationEngland in Civil War (1642)German princes, Catholics and Protestants
devastated by years of war
End of War
Redraws map of EuropeDutch United Provinces recognizedSwitzerland recognizedSweden gains German territoriesFrance gains Alsace
Treaty reinforces autonomy of German statesDecide own religion and foreign policyHoly Roman Emperor only has control over Austria
No country can declare war based on Catholicism or Protestantism
Reinforced the idea of sovereign territorial states with fixed borders
Treat of Westphalia, 1648