Define: Monarchy, Absolute Ruler,
Divine Right,
Vocabulary
Monarch- King or a Queen
 Absolute Monarch- A political system in
which a country is ruled by a monarch,
who has absolute control.
 Divine Right : The justification of
monarchy through the word of God monarchs used divine right to justify
their power

Answer the following:
How might having a king with total
power be a good thing? Explain your
answer
The Age of Absolutism
A period from 1648 to 1763 when
European monarchs began to create
powerful nations that placed
unlimited power in the hands of the
king and his/her advisors
The Rise of
Absolute Monarchs
What is an Absolute Monarch?
 European
kings had very little
power during the Middle Ages but
slowly gained power during the
Renaissance
 Eventually, the kings in Spain,
France, Russia, Austria, & Prussia
had complete control over the
lords & commoners in their nation
Peter & Catherine
the Great of Russia
Frederick the
Great of Prussia
How did
Louis
XIVkings go from having no power
in
Middle Ages to becoming absolute
of the
France
monarchs after the Renaissance?
Maria Theresa
of Austria
Phillip II of Spain
I Am

I am _____________&____________
 I wonder
 I hear
 I see
 I am _____________&____________
 I pretend
 I feel
 I touch
 I worry
 I cry
 I am _____________&____________
Middle Ages (500-1300)
 During
the Middle Ages,
Feudalism was very important:
–Feudalism divided society into
clear classes (You’re either a
poor peasant, a noble, or a
monarch & there was little
chance to move up)
–Feudalism provided order &
protection for the common
peasants
Middle Ages (500-1300)
 In
the Middle Ages, the Catholic
Church had unquestioned power
–Almost everyone was Catholic
in Europe so the pope served
almost like a king
–The church controlled peoples’
actions because church leaders
controlled access into heaven &
could excommunicate people
Renaissance (1300-1600)
 But
the Crusades, Black Death, &
100 Years War weakened the
power of feudal lords
 In the Renaissance, kings gained
Power
power & began toWealth
form=strong
nations as trade increased, people
moved to cities, a new middle was
class formed, & mercantilism gave
wealthy kings lots of power
Protestant Reformation (1517-1550)
 During
the Reformation, critics
like Martin Luther, John Calvin, &
Henry VIII broke
from the
Catholic Church
 This weakened
the power of
the church &
the Pope
Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)
 When
feudal lords & the pope lost
power, someone had to step up &
lead the people
 People looked to their new
wealthy kings to create a sense of
order & act as figures of authority
 As a result of this need, monarchs
were able gain almost absolute
(unlimited) power
Copy and complete chart using
review book page 91-96
Spain
Time
Period
Key
Leaders
Accomplishme
nts
Wars
England
Prussia
Russia
Spain
Prussia
Russia
Time
Period
1750
1682-1795
Key
Leaders
Frederick II
Peter the Great
Catherine the Great
Accomplishme
nts
• Creates a strong
army
• Unites Germany
• Establishes a
strong
government
•
• 30 Years War
• Attacks Austria
Seizes territory from
Poland
Conquers land along
the Baltic
Wars
England
•
Catherine the Great
captures a warm water
port!
Introduced western
technology, improved
education, developed
new industries,
encouraged trade
Copy and complete the following
questions using text pages 530-535
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
How old was Peter the Great when he took the
throne and became King?
What is westernization?
Define autocratic?
How did Peter the Great modernize Russia?
What is a warm-water port?
Was Peter the Great able to get a warm-water port
for Russia?
What were some changes Catherine the Great
made as an Enlightened ruler?
How did she treat the peasants?
Was Catherine the Great able to get a warm-water
port for Russia?
Complete the following Questions
“. . .The person of the King is sacred,
and to attack him in any way is an
attack on religion itself. Kings
represent the divine majesty and have
been appointed by Him to carry out
His purposes. Serving God and
respecting kings are bound
together.”—Bishop Jacques Bossuet
1. This statement describes the
philosophy that existed during the
Age of Absolutism
2. Renaissance
3. Industrial Revolution
4. French Revolution
1.
“God hath power to create or destroy,
make or unmake, at his pleasure; to
give life or send death; to judge…and
to be judged (by) none…And the like
power have kings;…”
2. Which idea is described by
this passage?
enlightened despotism
2. Social Darwinism
3. constitutional monarchy
4. theory of divine right
1.
Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)
 Monarchs
justified their right to
have absolute power by using the
idea of divine right—kings get
their powers from God, not the
people or a parliament
Age of Absolutism (1648-1763)
 European
kings were afraid one
nation would become too strong &
conquer the others; So they tried
to keep a balance of power
 As a result, lots
of wars were
fought during
Spain
France
this time period
Define, Limited Monarchy, Magna Carta,
English Bill of Rights, Czar (Tsar)
Warm Water Port
A port is a place
where boats dock.
A warm water port is
important because it
does not freeze.
This is important
because it allows for
boats dock all year
around. How will this
warm water port
allow Russia to
continuously make
money…

Old Russia

Westernized Russia
Constitutional
Monarchy
Theory/Ideology

Theory of Constitutional Monarchy
– This governmental system was established
to stop Absolute Monarchs from controlling
a country without proper representation
– CM allows the citizens of the country to
have a role in the leadership hierarchy
– The Monarch would have a leadership role
in this system but most of the power lies
within a constitution
Structure/Fuctionality

Constitutional Monarchy Hierarchy
– Monarch: Role is symbolic, representing
the nation, signing bill into law
– Prime Minister: Role is to run the
everyday governmental policies using
constitutional law
– Cabinet Members: They are the head of
ministers or cabinets that report to Prime
Minister and Monarch
Constitutional Monarchies
Around the World
– United Kingdom
– India
– Canada
– Jordan
– Sweden
– Australia