The Age of Absolutism in India/Spain/France/Russia – Guided Notes
Vocabulary
Absolutism - When a ruler, usually a King or Queen has total control over the government
and lives of the people in their country/ Kings and Queens can also be referred to as
Monarchs
Divine Right - The belief that the King or Queen was chosen by God to rule the country
Global Absolutism
- In both Europe and Asia in the 1500-1700’s monarchs looked to centralize their power
- This meant that they wanted total control over the government and the people in those
countries
Absolutism in India
- Akbar The Great of India was the first absolute ruler - late 1500’s
- He centralized his power and made India the largest and strongest empire in the world
- He was a fair ruler and promoted religious tolerance, his people liked him
Absolutism in Spain
- Because of the Age of Exploration, Spain became the most power nation in Europe in the
1500’s
- Following the death of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, their grandson Charles V takes
the throne
- He centralizes power, but being King takes a major toll on him, he gives up his throne and
divides his empire in two
- He gives Spain to his son Phillip and the Holy Roman Empire to his brother Ferdinand
- Phillip II took the throne from his father and ruled Spain
- He ruled by divine right, meaning that he believed God had chosen him to be King
- Phillip was a good ruler and brought about a golden age in Spain
- After his death Spain will fall apart since they spend too much time dealing with their
colonies overseas and ignore the people at home
Absolutism in France
- Once Spain falls apart following Phillip II’s death, France becomes the most powerful
nation in Europe
- King Louis XIII began the process of centralizing power in France
- He eliminated any political opponents and religious enemies - the Protestant Huguenots
- His son, Louis XIV will take over once he dies
- King Louis XIV will take the throne in 1643 as a five year old
- He adopts the sun as his symbol, becomes known as “The Sun King”
- He ruled from divine right
- He further centralized power and made France into a wealthy and powerful state by
collecting taxes and building a large army
- Built the Palace of Versailles in Paris
Absolutism in Russia
- Ivan the Great in the early 1500’s started Russia on a path towards absolutism
- His son Ivan The Terrible would completely centralize power
- Peter The Great will come to rule Russia as King in 1682
- He westernized and modernized Russia
-Made St. Petersburg the capital and a modern city
-Went to Western European countries to learn the latest in education and
technology
-Simplified the Russian alphabet and developed mining and textiles
- He also developed a large army to expand Russian territory/His ultimate goal was to find a
warm water port that would not be closed during the winter due to freezing
Summary
- Absolutism is when a ruler, usually a King or Queen has total control over the government
and lives of the people in their country
- Divine Right is the belief that the King or Queen was chosen by God to rule the country
- King Louis XIV of France and Peter The Great of Russia are two examples of Monarchs who
were absolute rulers
- Both expanded the power of the throne and strengthened their countries