Describe this picture. Who is this man? How do you know?Who is this man? How do you know? What does he do? What is his importance?What does he do? What is his importance? What is happening in the image?What is happening in the image?

Age of Absolutism

Causes of Absolutism of feudalism of feudalism Religious & territorial conflictsReligious & territorial conflicts –Protestant Reformation –Thirty Years’ War –French Huguenots v. Cath. Economic growth (capitalism, mercantilism)Economic growth (capitalism, mercantilism) Political & territorial uncertaintyPolitical & territorial uncertainty need for army raised taxes civil unrest & rebellion

Thirty Years’ War CAUSES Started due to religious conflict in Holy Roman Empire – Expanded to involve most European powers for various reasons (i.e. French- Hapsburg rivalry) OUTCOMES Peace of Westphalia (series of treaties) – Westphalian sovereignty Hapsburgs defeated End of Holy Roman Empire Some nations weakened, some stronger

How do you solve rebellion, conflict, and chaos? Get a centralized authority who can provide stability & order.Get a centralized authority who can provide stability & order.

What is Absolutism? Characteristics:Characteristics: 1) Belief in “divine right” to rule 2) Strong personality traits of monarch  ruler = symbol of national identity 3) Lessen power of nobility 4) Large standing army/military 5) Heavy taxation but heavy spending 6) Control of ideas 7) Specialized councils to advise king Absolutism was different in Eastern v. Western EuropeAbsolutism was different in Eastern v. Western Europe

Effects of Absolutism Control of ideas (religion, society)Control of ideas (religion, society) Increased size of courts to appear more powerfulIncreased size of courts to appear more powerful Major building projects to glorify rulerMajor building projects to glorify ruler Bureaucracies formed to control economyBureaucracies formed to control economy Long-term effects  revolution against monarchyLong-term effects  revolution against monarchy

Philip II of Spain Defender of CatholicismDefender of Catholicism Arrogant, ambitiousArrogant, ambitious Great wealth from empireGreat wealth from empire –High inflation & taxes Large standing armyLarge standing army Spanish Armada  but defeated Spanish Armada  but defeated  Golden Age of Spanish cultureGolden Age of Spanish culture Escorial palace built to demonstrate his power & faithEscorial palace built to demonstrate his power & faith Golden Age of Spanish cultureGolden Age of Spanish culture “His smile and his dagger were very close.”

Escorial Palace

Louis XIV of France Saw self as head of Cath. Church in FranceSaw self as head of Cath. Church in France –Revoked Edict of Nantes The “Sun King”The “Sun King” –Supported the arts BUT arts were to glorify himself as ruler, promote absolutism Increased central powerIncreased central power –Closely watched over gov’t officials Weakened nobilityWeakened nobility –Required nobility to live in Versailles –Estates General never met “L’état,c’est moi.” (I am the state).

Louis XIV of France Needed large army for many warsNeeded large army for many wars –War of Spanish Succession  France rose to military leader –Strong empire Controlled the economyControlled the economy –High debt & taxation –Finance minister Jean Baptiste Colbert

Palace of Versailles Proof of Louis XIV’s absolute power

Peter I (“the Great”) of Russia Increased czar’s powerIncreased czar’s power –6’7”, obsessed w/war games Brought Russian Orthodox Church under state controlBrought Russian Orthodox Church under state control Reduced power of landownersReduced power of landowners –Forced boyars to serve in military or gov’t Modernized armyModernized army –Recruited men of lower-ranks –Talented foreigners Imposed heavy taxesImposed heavy taxes –80-85% of taxes went to war –Beard tax

Peter I (“the Great”) of Russia Westernized RussiaWesternized Russia –Potatoes –1 st newspaper –Raised women’s status –Western fashions –Advanced education

Peter I’s St. Petersburg Glorify himselfGlorify himself Forced nobility to live thereForced nobility to live there Sectioned by social statusSectioned by social status

Other Absolute Monarchs Prussia Frederick William I Frederick II (“the Great”) Austria Maria Theresa Russia Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great