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Absolutism Study Guide
What is absolutism?
What characteristics make up an absolute monarch?
Where did the power of absolute monarchs derive from?
Louis XIV, Philip II, Peter the Great
Phillip II
o How was he able to inherit the Spanish Empire?
o What did the Spanish Empire consist of?
o Reconquista
o What palace did he build?
o Which artists did he support (was he a patron of?)
o Why did inflation ensue?
o Who had to pay most of the taxes?
o Dutch Revolts – Why did they revolt? What was the overall result?
Louis XIV
o Which cardinal essentially ruled for Louis when he was young?
o Who are intendants?
o Who was Jean Baptiste Colbert and what did he do for France
 What economic system did he promote? (Think back to the Age of
Exploration!)
o Know about Louis’s grand lifestyle
o What palace did Louis build? What did it look like?
o When Louis was painted, what did the artist portray him as? Why was this?
o Who faced the tax burden under Louis to pay for his fabulous lifestyle?
 What did this eventually lead to?
o War of Spanish Succession
o Please know info from the webquest
Peter the Great
o What dynasty was Peter a part of?
o Who were the boyars?
o Why did Russia not experience the Renaissance or Reformation?
o What religion did Russia practice?
o What was the importance of a warm water port?
o What was westernization? Why was this Peter’s overall goal?
o What was the Great Embassy?
o What were some examples of westernization that Peter implemented in
Russia?
o What did fights with Sweden result in?
o St. Petersburg – why is this important? Why was it built where it was? Who
built it?
o Please know info from the webquest
Refer to absolute monarch report cards as well.