Absolutism leads to the age of Enlightenment

 Powerful Monarchs  Renaissance encourage questioning, People began to question their Kings and Queens, which led to the Enlightenment.  Which led to the American Revolution in the  13 colonies.

 Rulers throughout Europe created absolute monarchs.  This abuse of power will lead to revolutions in the 1700 and 1800s.

 Absolute Monarchs emerge in Europe in the 1500 and 1600s.  Kings and Queens gained power through inheritance. Therefore European citizens didn’t get to choose their leaders.  European kings and queens had gained more power after the settlement of the Americas.

 Absolute monarchs-The king and queen had unlimited power.  Seek to control all aspects of society and the economy in their country. A lot like a dictator.  They rule with fear and suppress anyone who rises up against them.  They try to suppress the spread of ideas.

 Louis XIV-France  Phillip II-Spain  Peter the Great-Russia  Elizabeth I-England

 Louis XIV ruled France for 72 years. He is the longest reigning king in European history. He came to power at the age of 5.  He was known as the “Sun King.” He chose the sun as his emblem because of the god Apollo, god of peace.

 He wanted to increase his power and decrease the power of nobles and members of the church.  He fought 4 costly wars during his reign.  Taxes increase under Louis XIV.  Lived a lavish lifestyle.  At the end of his reign, France had $250 million worth of debt.  His debt led to the French Revolution.

 Louis built the Palace of Versailles 25 miles outside of Paris.  The palace housed his entire court so he could keep an eye on them, which only increased his power.  Some of the major rooms were the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen’s Chamber.

 Everything Louis did was ceremonial from breakfast to dinner.  It was a honor to feed the king breakfast or to dress him.  Anyone could visit Louis XIV. He kept his gates open all day.

 The Palace had 700 rooms total.  It had 36 bedrooms.  It had 483 mirrors.  It had 2,000 windows.  It had 67 staircases.  It was built on 19,000 acres.  It took about 30 years to complete and about 2.5 billion in today’s money to build.

QUEEN’S BED CHAMBERHALL OF MIRRORS

 Louis XIV supposedly only took 2 baths his entire life: when he was baptized and one later in his life.  Louis had a reported illegitimate children.  He had 5-6 legitimate children with his wife.

 Made France one of the leading world powers.  Supported the Arts (Opera, Painting, Ballet )  Modernized France’s Army  Established French colonies in the New World

 Elizabeth came to power at the age of 25 when Mary died.  She is known as the “Virgin Queen” because she did not marry.  Excommunicated from the Catholic Church.  She increased her power.

 Did settle religious matters.  Defeated the Spanish Armada who was sent to overthrow her.  Promoted the arts. Shakespeare performed at her court.  Voyages-Sent Sir Francis Drake-sailed around the world.  Sir Walther Raleigh-sent by Elizabeth to start a colony in the New World, Roanoke.

 Admired by the queen.  After he established Roanoke, she knighted him.  Some believed they were more than friends.  She had him put in the Tower of London for secretly marrying another girl.  He was eventually beheaded by James I successor to Elizabeth.

 She survived in a world dominated by men.  She united her people in a time of religious turmoil.  She strengthened England’s economy and made England a world power.

 Actions  Well educated  Modernized Russia’s Economy, Military, and Education system  Reduced power of nobles  Built St. Petersburg as new capital  Increased power of government  Heavily taxed Russian people  Fought in expensive and costly wars

 Phillip II was ruler of Spain and a strict Catholic.  He wanted to unite his kingdom which included Spain, the Netherlands, and possession in Italy and the Americas.  He increased his power and insisted enforcing Catholicism.  He decreased noble’s power and tried to suppress other religions.  Married “Bloody Mary”

 Divine right is the believe that kings receive their power from God and only have to answer to God.