ABSOLUTISMLouis XIV & Peter the Great
OCT. 13, 2015 Warm Up Review Vocab. Notes/Discussion over Absolutism Videos Absolutism and English Civil War test
Oct. 21/22 Project due Thursday/Friday
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Identify the characteristics of Absolutism Analyze the cause and effects of
absolutism Identify Louis XIV and Peter the Great
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WHAT IS ABSOLUTISM? During this time in Europe, rulers
wanted to be absolute monarchs Absolute monarchs believe that ALL
power within their state’s boundaries rests in THEIR hands
They justified this power through the divine right, or the idea that God created the monarchy and the monarch is God’s representative on Earth
Absolute monarchs only answer to God, not subjects
HOW DID WE GET HERE? During the Middle Ages, the nobility
had gained power but now these factors led to an increase in the monarch’s power:Decline of feudalismRise of citiesGrowth of national kingdom (centralized
authority)Growing middle class supported monarchs
because it stabilized businessBreakdown of Church authority
CRISIS LEADS TO ABSOLUTISM 1600s were a period of turmoil: religious
wars & territorial conflicts
Increase in taxes to fund armies
Civil Unrest
Monarchs increase power to stabilize kingdom: religion, social events, increased court size, new bureaucracies
LOUIS XIV“L’etat, c’est moi”“The State; It is I”
or “I am the State”
KINGS LEADING UP TO LOUIS Henry IV – Edict of Nantes – Religious
Toleration devoted reign to stabilizing France
Louis XIII (Henry’s son) – very weak, but appointed Cardinal Richelieu as ministerCardinal became virtual rulerMoved against the Huguenots, weakened
nobles, got involved in Thirty Years’ War to help weaken the Hapsburgs
LOUIS XIV OR ANOTHER CARDINAL TAKES THE THRONE Became King at 5 – Cardinal Mazarin
ruled until he was old enough and helped end the Thirty Years War
Mazarin was not well liked because he increased taxes and centralized power
Eventually people rebelled against him, but it was unsuccessful
Cardinal Mazarin dies in 1661
LOUIS XIV TAKES CONTROL At 23, Louis takes throne Weakened nobles by excluding them
from councils Created government agents called
intendants who collected taxes and administered justice
Appointed a financial minister – Jean Baptiste Colbert- helped business in France
1685 cancelled the Edict of Nantes many Huguenots fleeing France
LOUIS IN LUXURY Spent a lot of $ to surround himself in
luxury Every meal was a feast Had many servants to keep the palace
running Controlled nobility through pointless
rituals and forcing them to live at court
VERSAILLES Palace 11 miles southwest of Paris Palace stretched for 500 yards Was like a royal city Louis was a huge patron of the arts
Palace of Versailles video
LOUIS XIV & WAR 1660 – 20 million people in France (4x
England, 10x Dutch) Army had 400,000 during wartime 1672 Louis invades Spanish
Netherlands- ended by 1678 with France gaining a few towns
Tried to start a few other wars, but alliances had formed to stop France
WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION Charles II of Spain died promising his
kingdom to Louis XIV’s grandson Philip of Anjou
1701: England, Austria, Dutch republic, Portugal, and several German and Italian states united against France and Spain
War went until 1713 – Treaty of Utrecht: Philip was allowed to continue to rule Spain as long as the two never united
LOUIS XIV DEATH & LEGACY Died in bed in 1715 France was powerful Also left a lot of debt Resentment for abuse of power – will
affect his descendants
PETER THE GREATBringing Russia to the West
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WHERE DID WE LEAVE OFF? Ivan III (claimed Russia was 3rd Rome)
Increased Russian territoryCentralized power
Ivan IV “The Terrible”Struggled with boyars (nobles)- blamed
them for killing his wife1st Tsar to call himself oneOrganized own police forceExecuted the boyarsHis son was incapable of ruling
PETER I “THE GREAT” Romanovs restored power to Russia
Created a law codePut down rebellions
Peter I shared throne with half brother, but eventually gained sole power
RUSSIA AT THIS TIME… Land of Boyars (nobles) and serfs Unfamiliar with western Europe Religiously different from Europe since
they adopted Eastern Orthodox
PETER VISITS THE WEST 1697 “Grand Embassy” Tour of Europe Brought 200 servants and 55 boyars Kept identity secret Goal: To learn as much about European
culture as possible
RULING ABSOLUTELY New Goal: WESTERNIZATION Many disagreed with policy Brought Church under his control-
abolished office of the patriarch Reduced power of the boyars Put low ranking families in power by
granting them land – owed EVERYTHING to him
Hired European officers Soldiers were now committed for life Imposed heavy taxes to pay for
everything
WESTERNIZING Introduced potatoes – a staple of the
Russian diet Beards must be cut or pay a tax Started and edited Russia’s first
newspaper Invited women to social gatherings to
raise their status in society Ordered the nobles wear western
fashions
NEW CAPITAL: ST. PETERSBURG Wanted a seaport with easy access to
the West Chose a place on the Baltic Sea
“Window to the Sea” Forced serfs to build the city
25,000-100,000 died because of bad working conditions
IMPACT OF PETER THE GREAT Reformed culture and government in
Russia forever Now a power to be reckoned with in
Europe
Peter the Great Video
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