The Age of Absolutism
What is Absolutism? O 17 th and 18 th centuries O period in which traditional monarchs consolidated power and attempted to exert almost complete control over their subjects and the state of affairs in their country.
Justifications for Absolutism O Divine Right of Kings O Hobbes, Leviathan
What makes a successful Absolute Ruler? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily?
England The Challenge to Absolutism
Elizabeth I
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
James I
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Charles I
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
English Civil War
Oliver Cromwell
Discuss: Should Oliver Cromwell be considered an Absolute Ruler?
Oliver Cromwell O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Charles II
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
James II
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Glorious Revolution
Discuss: Why is this revolution called “glorious”?
William and Mary
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Discuss: According to the English Bill of Rights, what are the rights of all Englishmen?
Absolutism in France The Sun King
Cardinal Richelieu
Louis XIV
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Discuss: Why is Louis XIV often considered the quintessential absolute monarch?
Absolutism in Russia
Ivan the Terrible
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?
Time of Troubles
Peter the Great
O Religion? O Relationship with Parliament? O Absolute Characteristics? O Socially? O Politically? O Religiously? O Economically? O Militarily? O Notable Facts?