Absolutism SSWH14 The student will analyze the Age of Revolutions and Rebellions. a. Examine absolutism through a comparison of the rules of Louis XIV, Tsar Peter the Great, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Absolutism A political system in which a ruler holds total power (p. 441) Tied to the divine right of kings Kings responsible to no one but God Absolute monarchs had tremendous powers such as to make laws, levy taxes, administer justice, control the state’s officials, and determine foreign policy

Louis XIV – The Sun King Reigned 1643 – 1715 Long regarded as the best example of the practice of absolutism in the 17 th century Came to the throne in 1643 at the age of 4 Took over supreme power at the age of 23 with the death of chief minister Cardinal Mazarin

Louis XIV

Government & Religion under Louis XIV One of the keys to his power was his control of the central policy making of the government Royal court established at Versailles had three purposes –Personal household of the king –Chief offices of the state were located there –Powerful subjects came to find favors & offices for themselves

Govt. & Religion Under Louis XIV Continued…. Government ministers EXPECTED to obey his every wish. Complete authority over foreign policy, the Church, and taxes In the provinces, the king had less power so he bribed important people to guarantee his policies were carried out Goal to make France the preeminent power in Europe & achieve military glory

How did Louis XIV achieve his goal?

Tsar Peter the Great of Russia One of most prominent members of the Romanov dynasty Became czar (or tsar) in 1689 Absolutist monarch who claimed divine right to rule Visited the west and came back determined to westernize or Europeanize Russia Under Peter, Russia became a great military power By his death, Russia was an important European state

Military & Government Changes Reorganize the army Form the first Russian navy Divided Russia into provinces Hoped to create a police state Hoped for civic duty from officials, but his fears prevented it

Cultural Changes Began to introduce Western customs, practices, & manners into Russia Beards were shaved and coats shortened to imitate the west Insisted Russian upper class women remove the veils that had traditionally covered their face and move out into society

St. Petersburg Object of reforms = Make Russia into a great state and military power To do this he needed a port with access to Europe A long and hard fought war with Sweden achieved this goal St. Petersburg- a port city on the Baltic Sea became the capital and would remain such until 1918

St. Petersburg