Absolutism and the Modern State

1589-1715

Common Crises Demographic changes

Little Ace Age Returns poor crops

Drop in Trading

Lack of communication between monarchs and subjects

Constant presence of the nobility

Warfare

Popular Revolts

Lower class

Economic based

Common Achievements1. Greater taxation

2. Growth in the armed forces

3. Larger, more efficient bureaucracies

4. Increased ability to demand obedience from subjects

5. Development of a sovereign state

The Theories of Absolutism

Break into groupsread Hobbes’ LeviathanAll groups answer questions

Review Questions as a class

Louis XIV and the “Age of

Magnificence”r. 1643-1715

Ascent to the Throne Born 1639, dies 1715

The Regent Rule (1643-1661) Kept French armies in

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

The Frondes (1648-1653) Try to increase taxes Court flees Paris in 1649

The Reign of Louis XIVHow does Louis XIV

portray himself?Personality Traits of

Louis XIV

Absolute Tendencies Claims a divine right to rule

Ideas on decision making

Special police force

Select loyal officials

Builds a regime on ceremony

Economic PoliciesMercantilism

Idea by Jean-Baptiste ColbertGoal:Main Ideas

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

The Court of Louis XIV Versailles Palace, built

1669-1686

Treatment of the nobility

“Book of Manners”

Characteristics of Court life

Louis XIV’s Wars1659: Expands Military

1667: Invades Flanders

1672: Invades Netherlands

1681: invades Lorraine territory

1701-1713: War of Spanish Succession

1701: Forms a Grand Alliance

1713: Peace of UtrechtSignificance:

Persecution of MinoritiesRevocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685

Edict of Fontainbleu

Jansenists

Limits of Absolutism

Peter the Great

Watch A&E Biography on Peter the Great

Answer questions on sheet

Formation of Eastern European Absolutism

Politics Economics Military Culture/Society

Peter the Great

Taxes on everythingRussia divided into 8 districts

Academy of Sciences (1721)Names himself head of the Orthodox ChurchHoly SynodChanges to Western calendar

Hapsburgs

Frederick William the Great Elector of Brandenburg

Frederick William I

Essay Practice

The Culture of the Aboslutist Period

1600-1750

The Rise and Fall of Absolutism in

England1603-1688

James I of England (r. 1603-1625)

Born 1566 in Scotland

Mother, Mary Queen of Scots, abdicated throne in 1567 and James becomes James VI of Scotland

Ascent to the English throne

Name Change: Becomes James I of England

Unprepared for the throne

Believed in the Divine Right to Rule

Conflicts with Parliament James I view of Parliament

What powers does House of Commons have? King? Justification for each? Was compromise possible?

Raising revenue

Appointments of unpopular advisors

Attempted impeachments

James I and Foreign Relations

Issue of Foreign Relations

Spain

Marriages

Charles I (r. 1625-1649) and the Fall of Absolutism

Complaints against the king Controlled by Pope Too “tax happy” Kings lieutenants are exceeding their power Merchants cannot trade freely

Divisions within society Religious divisions

Puritans Arminians

Class divisions Parliament supporters: “Country,” poor King supporters: court, titled nobles

Divisions within Parliament

1625: forced loans on landowners w/o Parliament consent

1626: jails those who do not comply with loans

1628: Petition of Right passed

1629: Parliament dissolved

1634: Ship Tax

1637: forced Prayer Book on Scotland Scots rebel

1639: Forced London to pay for war Parliament will, only if they can reconvene

1640: Parliament reconvened, refused to pay, and are dissolved again

Beginnings of the English Civil War

Parliament refuses to pass laws

Charles calls the army in

SidesCavaliersRoundheads

War of words

Parliament triumphsBattle of Marston Moore

Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army

Divisions within Parliament 1. religious

Presbyterians Independents

2. reformersLevellersDiggers

Death of the King

Restoration of the Monarchy

Government of Oliver Cromwell (r. 1649-1658) Domestic policy Foreign policy

Charles II (r. 1661-1685) Navigation Acts Dutch Wars Colonization of US and Canada

James II (r. 1685-1688) Resurgence of Catholicism Glorious Revolution

The English Bill of Rights, 1688

Handed to William and Mary (r. 1688-1702)

Limitations on the crown

Role Parliament plays

Implications for the future

The Dutch Republic

Background and Structure to the Dutch State

Background Incorporated into the Holy

Roman Empire in 800 Passed off to Spanish rule in

1555 Split in 1581 Northern half recognized

independence in 1609 Southern half recognized

independence in 1648

Structure Oligarchies States General

Definition Duties

Stadholders

The Expanding Economy1609- Amsterdam Public Bank Opens

Shifting attitude towards the profession of banking

Fertile land is good for economy

Rise in population

Building of canals

Tulip production

The Role of Dutch Merchants

The Dutch East India Trading Companies

Expand markets to Europe and East Indies

Specialize in Bulk Goods

Dutch Culture1. Religion

Promote Religious tolerationHuguenot Migration Jewish migration

2. Attitudes towards…HomelessnessEconomyDutch success

Decline of Dutch RepublicWars with England drained the Dutch economy

Invasions of Louis XIV

Southern half partitioned to Austria in 1713

Shift in Government control

What made them immune to absolutism?

Government structure kept one from gaining too much power

Do not want to repeat the government of their mother country

General attitudes towards culture and humanity prevented an absolute leader from rising up

Became successful on their own – without government intervention

The Ottomans

Major Battles with the Europeans

1350: Attempts for Hungary

1423: Venice

1462: Romania and Eastern Europe

1526: Hapsburg Empire

1672: Poland

1700s: various wars with Russia

The Thirty Years War1618-1648

Big PicturePrecipitated by Religious divisions and politics

Last “War of Religion”

Cripples the HRE – no united Germany

Creates better defined system of sovereign states

At the end of the war, France, Spain, and England gain prestige.

Spanish and HRE influence diminishes

The Holy Roman Empire

BackgroundHRE is a loose confederation of over 1000 states

and cities

Federal StructureEmperor is head of state Chancery for foreign policy Imperial Diet – Parliament

Peace of Augsburg

OriginsOrder established at Peace of Augsburg is challenged by

Introduction of CalvinismKings breaking Provisions

Emperors/princes try to roll back Protestant RightsRudolf II (r. 1576-1612)Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria

Transylvania and Hungary revolt

Rudolf challenged by brother Matthias (r. 1612-1619)

Protestant League (1608) and Catholic League (1609) are formed in response to religious tension

Start of the War/Bohemian Phase(1618-1625)

Ferdinand, King of Bohemia, imposes limits on Protestants

Defenestration of Prague, 1618

Bohemian crown offered to Calvinist Frederick of Palatinate

Ferdinand II becomes emperor in 1619 Secures help from Spanish

and Catholic League Wins battle of White Mountain

1620, gaining control of Bohemia, Central and East HRE.

Danish Phase (1625-1630) Christian IV of Denmark

invades looking to help Protestants and to gain territory

Defeated by Albrecht Wallenstein, Bohemian noble and best Catholic general

Treaty of Lubeck, 1629

Ferdinand becomes even more repressive Protestants expelled/lands

confiscated Edict of Restitution, 1629

Swedish Phase (1629-1635)

Catholic successes alarm Protestant countries

Gustavus Adolphus, King of SwedenMotivated by:

FaithTerritorial gainDesire to kick butt

Gains territories back 1629-1632

Wallenstein recalledBattle of Lutzen, 1632

Adolphus dies, Catholics regain territories

French Phase (1635-1648) French had been aiding

Protestants throughout war

Finally enter war directly in 1635 by declaring war on Spain and sending troops to Germany

Cardinal Richelieu’s justification Raison d’etat

End of WarProtestants make a comeback because of the

French

Tired of war, they try to make peaceSpain bankrupt/Civil WarSweden losing troops/unhappy populationEngland in Civil War (1642)German princes, Catholics and Protestants

devastated by years of war

Treaty of Westphalia, 1648Redraws map of Europe

Dutch United Provinces recognized Switzerland recognized Sweden gains German territories France gains Alsace

Treaty reinforces autonomy of German states Decide own religion and foreign policy Holy Roman Emperor only has control over Austria

No country can declare war based on Catholicism or Protestantism

Reinforced the idea of sovereign territorial states with fixed borders