EQ
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WHAT DOES THE WORD ABSOLUTE
MEAN?
WHERE DOES THE POWER TO RULE
COME FROM?
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
WHAT IS THE WORST THAT A KING
CAN DO TO A PERSON? THE POPE?

The Rise of Absolutism in
Europe, 1500-1800

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Absolutism:
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The exercise of complete and unrestricted power of government

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Absolute Monarch –
 a king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society, economically, socially and politically.

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Divine Right –
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The idea that the power to rule comes from God. Monarchs are answerable only to God. The people cannot question the will of the monarch.

Causes of Absolutism
1. Growth in trade
2. Feudalism declined
3. Rise of cities
4. Growth of national kingdoms
5. Growth of middle class
6. Decline in Church power
7. Rise of colonial holdings

Effects of Absolutism
1. Power of nobles reduced
2. Individual rights limited
3. Abuse of power & tyranny
4. A desire of the people to be free!!
5. The Enlightenment

Regroup
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What were the years during which absolutism was at its height?
What “ism” had to decline in order for absolutism to rise?
How could a king protect a city?
Upon which group would taxes be levied?

Examples of Absolute
Monarchs
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Philip II of Spain
Louis XIV of France
Peter the Great of Russia
Frederick the Great of Prussia
Maria Theresa of Austria
Charles I of England

Philip II of Spain
1527-1598
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In 1556 Philip II becomes king of
Spain, the wealthiest, most powerful nation in Europe
Much wealth comes from American colonies
339,000 lbs of gold in 1660

Philip II of Spain
1527-1598
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Created 50,000 man army
Philip defended Roman Catholicism against Protestantism & Islam
Joined crusade against Ottomans in
1571

Philip II of Spain
1527-1598
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Attacked Protestant England under
Elizabeth I 1588 & lost
Loss severely weakened Spain
Spanish riches help stimulate a golden age in the arts

Golden Age of Spanish Art
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16 th & 17 century art
El Greco & Velazquez
Used warm, bright colors
Focused on religious themes & on monarchy
Cervantes wrote Don Quixote

Philip II of Spain

The Decline of the Spanish Empire
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Such a thing as “too much money”
Increase in population led to increase in demand for food & goods
Prices necessarily go up
Too much silver in circulation made value drop

The Decline of the Spanish
Empire
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Inflation:
Value of money declines (too much of an item lowers the value)
Prices of goods & services increases

The Decline of the Spanish
Empire
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To offset inflation taxes should be raised
The less silver in circulation, the more the value will rise
Spanish nobles did not pay taxes
Poor never could gain wealth

The Decline of the Spanish
Empire
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Without gaining wealth, the poor stay poor
With just rich & poor, & no middle class, there will be few businesses & few chances to save the economy
Because of high prices, Spaniards bought their goods abroad

The Decline of the Spanish
Empire
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Spanish money was flowing into the hands of Spain’s enemies
Philip also spent too much trying to control the Protestant Netherlands

Regroup
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What was one of the problems that led to the decline of the Spanish Empire?
What is inflation?
What was one of the great achievements of the Spanish Empire?

Louis XIV of France

The Thirty Years’ War
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Religious tension in Europe led to creation of Protestant Union &
Catholic League in 1608-09
Spark of war came in 1618
Ferdinand of Austria tried to crush
Protestants in Bohemia

The Thirty Years’ War
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Protestants revolted & war began
Two parts or phases to war
Hapsburg Triumphs & Hapsburg
Defeats

The Thirty Years’ War
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Hapsburg Triumphs
1618 – 1630
Catholic Austrians & Spaniards crushed all
Catholic army allowed to abuse
Germany as payment

The Thirty Years’ War
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Hapsburg Defeats
1630 - 1648
Protestant Swedes joined war in
1630 & tide started to turn
Catholic France joined on side of
Protestants!!

The Thirty Years’ War
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France feared Hapsburgs more than Protestants
French Catholics sent to fight
Austrian & Spanish Catholics
Wanted a strong France above all

The Thirty Years’ War
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Results:
Germany wrecked after war
Population down
Economy destroyed

Thirty Years’ War
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Peace of Westphalia (1648)
Catholic Hapsburg states weakened
France gained German territory
New method of figuring out peace: everyone sits down to negotiate (less resentment)

Regroup
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What was the central issue of the Thirty
Years’ War?
Where was the war fought primarily?
Why would the Catholic Cardinal
Richelieu want to join with the
Protestants in the war against Catholic
Austria?

Central Vs. Western Europe

Frederick the Great
1712-86
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Known as “Great” because of the success of his reforms
Reformed agriculture (brought in crop rotation, the iron plough and crop rotation) and justice system (court of appeals & lessened bribing of judges)

Frederick the Great
1712-86
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Tolerated almost all religions
Personally directed the economy for the benefit of the army
Maintained large army through heavy taxes on the citizens
Peasant education only for reading & writing– did not want them to know they were in a bad position

Frederick the Great

Maria Theresa of Austria
(r.1740-80)
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Fought War of Austrian Succession against Prussia
Increased taxes on nobility—why?
Strengthened central gov’t at expense of the local gov’ts
Taxed church heavily and confiscated church lands. Threw Jesuits out of
Austria

Maria Theresa of Austria
(r.1740-80)

Peter The Great of Russia
(r. 1672-1725)