Unit I: The First Global Age

Age of Absolutism

B. Absolute or Limited Monarchy?1. Many nations in Europe (and worldwide) centralized their power

a. Most claimed Divine Right, or authority from Godb. Leaders who claimed this right became Absolute rulers

and gained complete control over their gov’t and subjects (highly centralized)

*France, Spain, Prussia, Russia, Germany*King seen as being above the law and answered only to

God-Usually led extravagant lives and went to war often which emptied the coffers of the state-Usually only one ruler reached absolute power, then

steady decline

2. Global Absolutisma. During the 16th and 17th centuries, monarchs in Asia and the Middle East also sought to centralize their power

*e.g. India (Akbar the Great, Mughals)

B. Absolute or Limited Monarchy? (cont’d)

3. Positives and Negatives:

Pro-Absolutism Con-Absolutism

Expansion of bureaucracy and centralization of gov’t

Repression and oppression of subjects/citizens

Creation of an organized, standing, highly disciplined armies

Increase in multi-conflict wars (e.g. 30 Years War)

Westernization or modernization (in some cases-Russia)

Preservation of the ançien régime

Strong foreign policy Growth of imperialism and colonialism

Stabilization of Europe and economic growth

Bankruptcy of many nation-states

Many experienced golden ages and led to the Enlightenment

Eventual rebellions and revolutions against absolutism

4. Reaction to Absolutism in England (1600-1700)a. While other nations followed the path to absolutism,

English nobles and Parliament were able to stop divine right and absolutism

*After the death of Elizabeth I (Tudor) the Stuarts took the throne-tried to gain absolute power, power struggle ensues

*Eventually led to revolution against the monarch-English Civil War (1642-49)-Charles I beheaded and military commander Oliver Cromwell became leader of the Commonwealth (a form of republic)

b. The Restoration (1660) and Glorious Revolution (1688)*Monarchy restored due to troubles with the Commonwealth-Cromwell had become tyrannical and dealt with many uprisings-Parliament asked Charles II to re-take the throne

*Eventually the monarchy became unpopular again (absolutist policies)-Parliament, fearing another rebellion replaced James II with his daughter and her husband-William and Mary took the throne and James fled to France (bloodless transfer of power)

B. Absolute or Limited Monarchy? (cont’d)

B. Absolute or Limited Monarchy? (cont’d)

5. Limited monarchy established in Englanda. English Bill of Rights (1689)

* Before William and Mary could take power they had to except the Bill of Rights as passed by Parliament to ensure its superiority over the monarchy

*In the 1500 and 1600’s, the monarchies of Europe sought to centralize power in their kingdoms.

*To justify absolutism, or complete control over government, monarchs appealed to the theory of divine right, in which monarchs believed they acted on behalf of God, which gave them power above the law.

*In England, Parliament required King William and Queen Mary to sign a Bill of Rights guaranteeing the civil rights of English citizens. This was a milestone in the protection of human rights under the law.

* The seventeenth century concerns with order and power were to be reflected in the political thought of the time, prompting responses in a new movement that will be called the Enlightenment and revolutions against absolutism.