Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe

Western Absolutism Leader Government Military Religious Secret police…JV Totalitarians

Absolute State and Medieval Government Finance Bureaucracy Armies Right to Rule Religion

Absolute State and Medieval Government Finance Had to negotiate with nobles for grants of money Had bureaucracy to run economy and collect taxes

Absolute State and Medieval Government Bureaucracy Crown Servants High officials /nobles gained great wealth Career officials from middle class – paid salaries What is a bureaucracy?

Absolute State and Medieval Government Armies Armies raised only as needed Maintained permanent standing armies

Absolute State and Medieval Government Right to Rule “By grace of God” Had to respect laws Divine Right Responsible only to God

Absolute State and Medieval Government Religion Under the jurisdiction of the pope Because king is chosen by God, rebellion can be seen as religious rebellion as well

I Kings—supporters of absolutism Bishop Jacques Bossuet Jean Bodin Thomas Hobbes

The Golden Age of Spain 16th c. Escorial of Philip II Inquisition

Decline of Spain 17th c.—economy Expelled Muslims and Jews—good businessmen Competition from Dutch and English trade Small middle class—hard work was looked down on

Decline of Spain 17th c.—military and political Battle of Spanish Armada Treaty of the Pyrenees—1659

Baroque—the art of Absolutism 1600 – 1750 The more dramatic, the better! Emotion and movement

Piazza (area outside) and Colonnade of St Piazza (area outside) and Colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Gianlorenzo Bernini “Arms” of the “Mother” Church reaching out to embrace all of Christendom “Mother” Church

Reverse View of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Gianlorenzo Bernini

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa Also by Bernini… The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

Compare Davids

Versailles

“St. Francis in Ecstasy” Caravaggio, 1595 Very emotional work, not calm like the Renaissance, contrast of light and dark called chiarascuro to add drama

“David and Goliath” by Caravaggio

“The Elevation of the Cross” by Peter Paul Reubens, Flemish painter (worked for Hapsburgs) 1610-11 Note the use of the diagonal and motion to create a dramatic effect.

“The Garden of Love” Peter Paul Reubens, 1630-32

“Las Meninas” Diego Velázquez 1656

“Judith slaying Holofernes” Artemisia Gentileschi

Compared to the Dutch Style

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Jan Vermeer (1632-1675)

Constitutionalism Government power based on law Rights and individual liberties

Netherlands—merchants held influence in the government

House of Orange stadholder

Baruch Spinoza—Jewish philosopher allowed to speak freely—shows religious tolerance Arminianism—Calvinism w/o Predestination

Sweden—a constitutional monarchy Gustavus Adolphus Focused on trade, not war