EUROPEAN ABSOLUTISM AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT

1600-1763

The ConnectionHumanist writers study ancient Greek and Roman manuscripts

Ren. artists’ use of perspective leads to better observation of the real world

Northern Ren. focuses more on Christianity and education

Luther’s desire to reveal the truth about the Bible leads to a split in the Catholic Church

Gutenberg’s printing press rapidly spreads Protestant ideas, weakening the Church’s control The Scientific

Revolution develops a systematic method to explain the universe

Enlightenment thinkers apply science and reason to explain human nature

American patriots use Enlightenment philosophy to justify a revolution

The ConnectionSpain, France, and England develop nation-states over time by kicking out minorities and consolidating land The Sun King

develops an absolute monarchy copied by the European nobility

The Treaty of Westphalia after the Thirty Years’ War establishes the notion of sovereignty in law

New nation-states, such as Austria, evolve within existing states (e.g. The Holy Roman Empire – itself a failed nation-state)

Tudor monarchs in England rule absolutely, but the power of parliament begins to rise

The Glorious Revolution leads to the further weakening of the monarchy

Enlightenment writers stress individual rights and defend the idea of revolution

Colonial self-government and capitalism leads to an American Revolution

The Nation-StateETHNICITY

• Ethnic Identity

CITIZENSHIP

• Civic Identity

RISE OF THE NATION-STATEFirst … a little vocabulary:

• State – a politically organized territory administered by a sovereign gov’t

• Nation – a group of people who share a common bond – language, ethnicity, religion, and/or other shared attributes

• Nation-state – a state that coincides with the area settled by a group or people

• Sovereignty – final authority rests with legitimate rulers of independent states

BY THE EARLY 1700S …• England, Spain, & France = nation-states• Russia, Italy, & the Holy Roman Empire = multi-national states• America – a rising nation-state (the concepts of nationalism & sovereignty were bringing the colonists closer together)

Europe After the Peace of Westphalia

European Exploration and Colonization Diffused the Nation-

State Worldwide

Age of Absolutism 1589-1715

• Definition: comes from the traditional transfer of power to heirs to the throne AND the belief in “divine right of kings”.

• Characteristics:– Sovereignty rest in the person of the king/queen– Absolute monarchs more powerful than assemblies– Nobles are controlled by ruler– Control over the Roman Catholic Church– Had large standing armies

French AbsolutismA)Henry IV (1589-

1610) Bourbon Dynasty

Wars of Religion – Huguenots (Fr. Protestants) vs. Catholics“Paris is worth a mass”Edict of Nantes (1598) – freedom of religion; fortify citiesBrings back traditional Estates: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

Louis XII (1610-1643) Cardinal Richelieu a politique who weakened…

Huguenots – no fortified cities (maintain religious freedom)Nobles – destroyed fortified castles & armies; reduced powerResponsible for constructing foundation for an absolute monarchy.

The Sun King

Louis XIV: The Sun King (1643-1715)

Divine right of kings (ordained by God); “L’etat c’est moi” (“I am the state”)

Absolute rule (no opposition)Moves court, gov’t, & key nobles to Versailles (elaborate prison) – must serve king to advance in power

Centralization of power

http://youtu.be/jecpccNgfCA

Construction of Versailles

The French Nation-State)

–Culture - revokes Edict of Nantes; hurts France (loss of revenues, workers, 200,000 Huguenots)–Military - creates the grandest army in Europe; fights several wars (drains economy)–Economy - mercantilism; protects industries (subsidies, high tariffs, colonies)

Legacy of the Sun King–Culture – France becomes strongest & most influential state; other monarchs duplicate French ways–Military – other states ally against France to create a balance of power–Economy – in shambles; expensive court, Versailles & wars drain money (debt haunts successors)

The Enlightenment

The Age of Reason (~1600-1800)

–Scientific Revolution – reason used to discover physical laws; leads to…–Rationalism – reason used to discover natural laws (human nature)

Thomas Hobbes – –Leviathan (1651)•People lived in anarchy; “state of nature”; “brutish” & dangerous•Unwritten “social contract” w/ absolute ruler (to maintain stability)•Retain only the right to life

Leviathan

–John Locke – Two Treatises of Government (1690)•1) “Social contract;” retain rights to life … liberty & property; rulers must preserve rights•2) If “natural laws” are broken, people have right to revolt; overthrow ruler•3) Justification for the “Glorious Revolution” of England (mid 1600s)

Age of Enlightenment (~1700-1800)–Philosophes (“lovers of wisdom”) use science and reason to improve society–Denis Diderot - edits Encyclopedia (mid 1700s; 28 volumes)•Philosophes contribute articles; criticize church, gov’t, taxes, slave trade, … society should benefit ALL•Monarchies & Church attempt to suppress ideas … but Enlightenment thoughts diffuse (e.g., salons, writings)•Madame Geoffrin & de Pompadour

Denis Diderot

–Baron de Montesquieu•a) The Spirit of the Laws (1748); analyzes world gov’ts•b) England - power divided “equally” among 3 branches; executive, legislative, & judicial (misunderstood – exec. & leg. largely combined in House of Commons)•c) Checks and balances - nearly perfect gov’t

–Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet)•Wrote against intolerance & injustice•Targeted corrupt officials, slave trade, religious intolerance,…• Imprisoned (Bastille) & exiled•Freedom of speech – “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

–Jean-Jacques Rousseau•The Social Contract (1762); tabula rasa (“clean slate”)•Society corrupts; unequal distribution of property; too many limitations•Naturally “good” state preserved only by a gov’t the people choose & control (pop. sovereignty)•“General will” - individual should be subordinate to the community (different from other philosophes)

The American NationA) Clash of the Titans–Seven Years War (1756-1763) - France & England aim to control America–Other European powers involved (e.g., Prussia vs. Austria)–Treaty of Paris (1763) – Britain & allies win; reduces French hold in America–War united American colonists (fought for common cause – defense)

– Adam Smith - physiocrat•The Wealth of Nations (1776)•Natural laws - Supply and Demand; Competition (“Invisible Hand”)•Scarcity - increases price•Free Enterprise - based on supply, demand, & competition•Laissez-faire (“let-do”); hands-off - no gov’t intervention

Mercantilism Capitalism

MERCANTILISM + ENLIGHTENMENT = CAPITALISM

Monarchy Popular sovereignty

Strict gov’t controlLaissez faire,

private propertyMonopolies Competition

Tariffs & subsidies Free tradeAcquisition of gold & silver

Development of goods through

industries

A Quick Lesson in Economics

Mercantilism:Wealth = GoldGold = LimitedMost = Wins

Capitalism:Wealth = GoodsGoods = LimitedMost = Wins