18.3

ABSOLUTISM IN EUROPE

France Under

Louis XIV

• Absolutism: a political system in which a ruler holds total power

• Cardinal Richelieu strengthened the monarchy’s power

– Created network of spies

– Stripped many rights of Huguenots

Louis XIV takes power 1661 CE

• Established his seat of power in Palace of Versailles

• Held absolute power: taxes, foreign policy, religion

– Bribed local officials

• Devout Catholic; persecuted Huguenots, destroyed churches

Louis XIV • Louis XIV built palaces, started wars, and

financed lavish parties; expenses problematic

• Jean-Baptiste Colbert controlled finances of

France

– Followed mercantilism

• Raised a standing army of 400,000

– Waged four wars in hopes of total domination

• Louis XIV dies 1715 CE, age 76

– Left France surrounded by enemies; citizens in

poverty

“ [UP] TO THIS MOMENT I HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO ENTRUST THE GOVERNMENT OF MY AFFAIRS TO THE LATE CARDINAL. IT IS NOW TIME THAT I GOVERN THEM MYSELF. YOU [SECRETARIES AND MINISTERS OF STATE] WILL ASSIST ME WITH YOUR COUNSELS WHEN I ASK FOR THEM… . I REQUEST AND ORDER YOU TO SEAL NO ORDERS EXCEPT BY MY COMMAND… . I ORDER YOU NOT TO SIGN ANYTHING, NOT EVEN A PASSPORT . . . WITHOUT MY COMMAND; TO RENDER ACCOUNT TO ME PERSONALLY EACH DAY AND TO FAVOUR NO ONE.”

“YOU ARE ABOUT TO BECOME A GREAT KING. DO NOT IMITATE ME EITHER IN MY TASTE FOR BUILDING OR IN MY LOVE OF WAR. LIVE IN PEACE WITH THE NATIONS. . . . STRIVE TO RELIEVE THE BURDENS OF YOUR PEOPLE IN WHICH I HAVE BEEN SO UNFORTUNATE AS TO FAIL.”

Russia Ivan the Terrible

• Russia formally came into existence under Czar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) in ~1550 CE

– Czar = “Caesar” in Russian

• Destroyed the boyars (Russian nobles); ruled absolutely

• Died 1598 CE; “Time of Troubles” followed—anarchy

– Michael Romanov chosen as new czar; began Romanov dynasty

Peter the Great

• Peter the Great of the Romanov

dynasty became absolute czar 1689 CE

• Borrowed technology from Europe

• Borrowed from Western society and

culture

– Etiquette, customs

• Peter wanted a port with ready access

to Europe

– Warred with Sweden to gain access to

Baltic Sea

– Constructed St. Petersburg as a naval base

& trading port

Activity(18.4)

-One sheet of paper -Due at end of class-Complete sentences-Turn in to front desk

1. With your table partner, look up and define

“baroque” in the context of architecture.

2. Find 3 examples of buildings in the baroque

style. (list the names of the buildings)

3. Answer: How is baroque architecture

different from gothic? How is it similar?

4. Answer: Who was the most well-known

playwright of the Elizabethan era?

5. What theater did he most often perform at?

6. Find and list 10 different words that he

coined.