The Age of Absolutism…
France In the Age of
Absolutism
Henry IV (r. 1589-1610)
– Bourbon King of France,
– Huguenot converted to
Catholicism
Edict of Nantes France’s Tax System (3 Estates) Parisian Exception Duke of Sully -
Louis XIII (r 1610-1643)
Cardinal Richelieu – ruled
as his chief minister
Goal –
Huguenot Policies –
Indendents -
Shift in Power -
The 30 Years War
• Protestant Uprising in
the Holy Roman Empire
• Richelieu’s view on the
war
• Effects –
– Treaty of Westphalia
1648
Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715)
• Fronde Rebellion –
suspicious of France’s
nobility
• The building of Versailles
• Ruled by the Divine Right
of Kings
Domestic & Economic Policies
• No decisions w/out
Louis’s approval
• Jean Baptiste Colbert –
financial minister
– Colbert’s policies
• Wars -
Louis XiV’s Wars
• Strongest, most powerful
military in Europe
• Extend France’s natural
borders
• Balance of power
Russia Today
Former Soviet Region
Compared in Latitude & Area
with the United States
Topography of Russia
Rich Soil of the Steppes
Chernozen Soil
Siberia  “Permafrost”
 A former “gulag”
Soviet prison camp.
 Average temperatures of January
vary from 0 to -50°C, and in
July from 1 to 25°C
 150,000,000 population.
Themes
in Russian History
 Expansion by conquest.
Need for warm-water
ports.
 The necessity of a strong,
central government.
Romanov Dynasty
(1613-1917)
Michael Romanov
(r. 1613-1645)
Romanov Family Crest
The Pendulum
of Russian History
Pro-West
For Progress & Change
Encourage New Ideas,
Technologies, etc.
Anti-West
Isolationist
Xenophobic
Ultra-Conservative
 A few Tsars
 Most Tsars
 Intellectual elites
 Russian Orthodox
Church
 Merchants/
businessmen
 Young members of
the middle class.
REFORM-MINDED
LEADERS
 Supported by the
Military, Boyars
(nobility) &
peasants
DEMAGOGUES
Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725)
 Main Goal
was to
Westernize
Russia
Foreign Policy
 Goal: To end Russia land locked
situation
 Acquire the Sea of Azov
 Land was controlled by the
Ottoman Turks
 Needed help from Europe & a
stronger Russia
 Traveled through Europe (secretly)

Attempted to negotiate an
alliance – failed

Learned much about the
western culture
Russia & Sweden After the
Great Northern War
 Improved Army
training & weaponry
using western
techniques and
strategies
 War with
Sweden
 1721 gained land
on the Gulf of
Finland
Westernization
 Moved capital to Moscow
 Social Development
 Women
 Beards
 Encouraged manufacturing
and foreign trade
 Modernized the army &
reformed the government.
The Nobility Under
Peter the Great
 Nobility & Orthodox Church
came under Peter’s control.
Highly centralized
government
 “Service Nobility” –
 Absolute power & the Church
Catherine the Great ( 17621796)
 Came to power
after the
murder of
Peter III
Catherine the Great ( 17621796)
 As an Enlightened Ruler:

Supported the arts, sciences,
literature & theater

Encouraged foreign investment in
underdeveloped areas

Est. the Free Economic Society

Wanted to end serfdom but instead
expanded it (1773)

Relaxed censorship & encouraged
education for the nobility & middle
class
Catherine the Great ( 17621796)
 On Foreign Policy & Expansion:

Expanded Russian land by 200,000 sq
miles

Led 2 successful wars against the
Ottoman Empire, annexing Crimea

3 Polish Land grabs

1767 – New Constitution