Age of Absolutism
Global Studies 9
Mrs. Hart
Absolutism
Absolutism is a political
theory that puts for the
idea that a ruler has
complete and unrestricted
control over the
government and lives of
the people he/she rules.
Spanish Absolutism
During the 1500s, Spain was
the most wealthy nation in
Europe as a result of the
riches brought in from its
overseas empire.
Charles V: King of Spain and
Holy Roman Emperor.
Philip II: ruled by divine right,
the belief that
the right to rule came from
God, and promoted a golden
age in Spain.
Reasons for Spanish Decline
• Rulers spent too much money on wars.
• Spanish relied too much on gold and silver
from their colonies, and ignored business at
home.
• Middle class became resentful because they
were being taxed too heavily, and stopped
supporting the government.
Absolutism in France
By the late 1600s, France
replaced Spain as the most
powerful country in Europe.
Henry IV: reduced the power of
the nobles.
Louis XIII: strengthened the
army.
Louis XIV: ruled France for 72
years, took the
sun as the symbol of his power,
built a lavish Palace at Versailles,
made a strong army, and
persecuted Protestant
Huguenots.
Absolutism in Russia
During the 1400s, Moscow
became the center of power in
Russia, under the rule of Ivan
the Great.
Peter the Great: brought all
Russians under his authority,
reduced the power of the
nobles, and gained control of
the Russian Orthodox Church.
He worked to modernize Russia
and used force when necessary
to achieve his goals. He
expanded Russia’s borders and
gained ports on the Baltic Sea.
Absolutism in England
In the 1500s and 1600s, Parliament managed to
resist the consolidation of royal power. In 1603,
the throne passed to the Stuarts, who came into
conflict with Parliament.
King James I: clashed with Parliament over
financial issues and foreign policy. He dissolved
Parliament and imposed his own taxes. He also
conflicted with Puritans.
Absolutism in England
The Stuart monarchs got
support for their absolute form
of rule from writer Thomas
Hobbes. He supported the
idea of divine right in his book
The Leviathan. He said that
people were by nature greedy
and selfish, and needed a
strong, absolute ruler to keep
them in line and prevent
chaos.
Puritan Revolution
Charles I: inherited the throne from his father. He put
his enemies in prison, imposed high taxes, dissolved
Parliament, and angered the Puritans. Civil war then
broke out between the king and Parliament. The war
was called the Puritan Revolution. Those who
supported Charles I were called the Cavaliers, and
those who supported Parliament were called the
Roundheads, led by Oliver Cromwell.
Puritan Revolution
Cromwell finally defeated the
Cavaliers, captured the king
and had him beheaded. Soon
afterward, the House of
Commons abolished the
monarchy, and Cromwell
became England’s leader.
After Cromwell’s death,
Parliament invited Charles II
to become the king of
England. This restored the
Stuart monarchy and in 1685,
Charles’ s brother James II
inherited the throne.
Glorious Revolution
In 1688, James II was
overthrown, and Parliament
asked James II’s daughter Mary
and her husband William, to
take power. The transition was
done non-violently and was
called the Glorious Revolution.
Before William and Mary took
power they had to accept the
English Bill of Rights, a set of
laws which established a limited
monarchy.
English Bill of Rights
This Bill of Rights
• stated that the king had to work
with Parliament and give control
of finances to the House of
Commons.
• abolished excessive fine and
cruel or unusual punishment.
• affirmed habeas corpus, the right
of a person to not be held in jail
without first being charged with a
crime.
Toleration Act
• The Toleration Act was also passed which
granted religious toleration to Puritans and
Quakers. Catholics however were denied this
right.