Absolute Monarchies

Spain – Philip II   Son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal (he married Mary I of England – her mother was the aunt of Charles V = yes, they were distant relatives!)  He made all decisions

Philip II  Wanted to increase the Hapsburg family’s power throughout Europe He involved Spain in many costly European wars He involved Spain in many costly European wars  Successes Protestant Reformation failed Protestant Reformation failed Kept Spain Catholic Kept Spain Catholic 1571 defeated the Ottoman Turks 1571 defeated the Ottoman Turks

Philip II  Failures  Lost Netherlands  Defeat of the Spanish Armada – was not able to take over England

England – Elizabeth I  Golden Age of England  Time of great culture – artists, poets, theater = Shakespeare  Refused to marry  Assisted by a council of nobles – with her approval

Elizabeth I  Government laws and policies regulated lives of the common people  England was in debt when she took over  She sold royal lands, monopolies, offices, licenses to pay off debts  Foreign policy – balance of power  Balance of power – a system where each nation helps to keep peace and order by maintaining power that is equal to, or in balance with rival nations

Elizabeth I  Afraid of France – more powerful than England  Relied on other countries for resources  English Channel for defense  Strong navy

Elizabeth I  Successes - Kept Spain out of the Netherlands - Kept Spain out of the Netherlands - Scotland became Protestant and ally of - Scotland became Protestant and ally of England England - Ireland became an ally - Ireland became an allyFailures - England still in debt - England still in debt

France – Louis XIV  Most powerful Bourbon monarch  Took throne at the age of 5 in ruled by his two regents – his mother - ruled by his two regents – his mother Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin - Mazarin died in Mazarin died in Louis took over at the age of 23 - Louis took over at the age of 23  Reigned for 72 years – longest reign in European history – died in 1715

Louis XIV  He was the source of all authority  “I am the state!”  Strong monarchy due to fear of disorder  Chose top advisors from the middle class - they would not challenge the king - they would not challenge the king  Could not change all traditions or he would lose the crown  Appointed 2 key advisors – one as economic and financial minister and the other as minister of war

Louis XIV  Foreign policy – countries were scared of Louis desire for expansion  This led to many countries creating alliances with France  Successes - brilliant cultural period - brilliant cultural period - army was one of the strongest in Europe - army was one of the strongest in Europe

Louis XIV  Failures - building projects and wars left France in - building projects and wars left France in severe debt severe debt - weakening of nobility – lost ability to - weakening of nobility – lost ability to govern, but not desire for power govern, but not desire for power - The War of the Spanish Succession - The War of the Spanish Succession - increased poverty - increased poverty - created opposition to his rule - created opposition to his rule - lost Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to - lost Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to England England

Louis XIV  Failures - conflict between nobles and middle and lower classes would / will bring France to the brink of a revolution - conflict between nobles and middle and lower classes would / will bring France to the brink of a revolution

Russia – Peter the Great  1689  After taking the throne he traveled throughout England studying their shipyards, factories, mills, and labs  Learned carpentry, surgery, and dentistry  When he returned – he had everyone adopt the ways of the western Europe  Sent Russians to study abroad

Peter the Great  New capital city, St. Petersburg - Window to the West  Made great changes to Russian government  Created a central bureaucracy (France) - local governments now under its control - local governments now under its control - Eastern Orthodox Church under its - Eastern Orthodox Church under its control control

Peter the Great  Created new class of nobles - in exchange for their services to the - in exchange for their services to the gov’t, they were given estates gov’t, they were given estates - duty to the czar started at age 15 - death - duty to the czar started at age 15 - death - used privileges and force to make - used privileges and force to make nobility accept gov’t service nobility accept gov’t service - had total control of serfs (opposite from - had total control of serfs (opposite from Europe – they had been gaining freedom) Europe – they had been gaining freedom)

Peter the Great  Created tax laws to increase gov’t income  Nobles did not pay taxes  Brought agriculture and craft production under gov’t control  Incentives to increase mining and metal working

Peter the Great  Foreign Policy - wanted to make Russia a European - wanted to make Russia a European power power - expanded boarders - expanded boarders - took control of Siberia - took control of Siberia - claimed the Bering Strait - claimed the Bering Strait - had settlements in Alaska and California - had settlements in Alaska and California - fought Poland, Sweden, and the Ottoman - fought Poland, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire for ports Empire for ports

Peter the Great  Successes - opened Russia to Europe - opened Russia to Europe - strengthened Russia’s role in foreign - strengthened Russia’s role in foreign affairs affairs - brought into mainstream European civilization - brought into mainstream European civilization - modernized the military - modernized the military - land acquisition - land acquisition - defeated Sweden in 1721 gained control - defeated Sweden in 1721 gained control of the eastern end of Baltic region of the eastern end of Baltic region

Peter the Great  Failures - created a dangerous divide between - created a dangerous divide between nobles and peasants nobles and peasants - divide between those who embraced - divide between those who embraced European ways and those who did not European ways and those who did not - within Russian he only had limited - within Russian he only had limited success success - reforms were incomplete - reforms were incomplete