1. …or as Mel Brooks said, “It’s good to be the King.”
The Age of Absolutism

2. Major Ideas…
Absolute monarch – has total control over all aspects of life within their kingdom
Divine right – belief that their power comes from God, because God “chose” them to be the king through birth
What allows “absolute monarchs” to gain power?
decline of feudalism – no more nobles to fight with for power
growth of cities – lots of people in one place are easier to control
growth of middle class – merchant class liked kings because they kept the peace and wouldn’t disrupt trade
Wars over religion – people want someone to bring peace
Vid

3. King vs. Oliver Charles I Cromwell

4. King Charles I of England
King of a Protestant nation, but has a Catholic wife and alliances with Catholic countries
Country is losing money as a result of numerous wars
Parliament refuses to give Charles more money unless he gives up some of his power
ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642)

8. King Charles II of England
Chased out of the country by Cromwell
After Cromwell’s death, Charles II is asked to return and be king (after they just fought a war to get rid of a king!!!)
The “Restoration”
Forced to support Anglicanism (doesn’t really care)
Known as the “merry monarch”  lots of parties and no “legitimate” children

9. King James II of England
Charles II was secretly Catholic…James II is OPENLY Catholic…how’s that work in England?
The English people and Parliament are distrustful of a Catholic monarch in England demand that he resign as king.
James has a daughter named Mary
Mary has a husband named William, who is King of the Netherlands (the Dutch)
Parliament asks William and Mary to invade England and take the throne.

10. William & Mary
Lead the “Glorious Revolution” to overthrow James II (her dad!!!)
Ensure that England remains Protestant (Anglican)
Sign the English Bill of Rights
Founded the College of William and Mary in 1693!!

11. FRANCE

12. France & the 30 Years War
France is divided between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants)
France makes the decision to attack Huguenots in order to “protect” the Catholic monarchy
France gets involved in 30 Years War to weaken the Hapsburgs’ (Spain/Austria) power and make France stronger

13. France & the 30 Years War
Spain starts the 30 Years War against Protestants in Germany
Close Protestant churches and send in the army
1st half of war (12 years) goes well for Spain
Hapsburgs win victory after victory
Allow army to pillage conquered towns instead of paying them
2nd half of war (18 years) goes really badly for Spain
German Protestants form alliance with France (Catholic) and defeat Hapsburgs

14. “Defenestration of Prague”

15. The 30 Years War Peace of Westphalia Ends 30 years war
Vid
Peace of Westphalia
Ends 30 years war
Weakens all parts of Hapsburg empire (Spain & Austria)
Weakens Germany because of severe loss of life (about 4 million people died)
France becomes most powerful country in Europe
Is the last major religious conflict in Europe

16. France…
Louis XIV (1643 – 1715)
King at age of 5, officially takes power at 23
victory in 30 Years War makes France the most powerful country,  Louis is most powerful king
builds Palace of Versailles to emphasize his importance
Weakens power of nobles
famously says “L’état c’est moi!” 
“I am the state!”

17. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

18. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

19. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

20. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

21. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

22. PALACE OF VERSAILLES

25. AUSTRIA

26. Austria… Maria Theresa (1740 – 1780)
Mother of 16 children (including the future queen of France  Marie Antoinette)
Began ruling with the belief that a monarch should take care of her people…changed that belief later in life
No religious tolerance in Austria
Fights 2 wars with Prussia to protect her kingdom

27. PRUSSIA

28. Prussia… Frederick II – “Frederick the Great” (1712 – 1786)
said that “a ruler should be like a father to his people”
His own father tried to “toughen him up” by making him watch the execution of his best friend
Was very interested in military conquest
Builds the strongest army in Europe
encouraged religious toleration (between Catholics and Protestants)

29. Prussia…and Austria…and England…and France
Seven Years War (1756 – 1763)
Maria Theresa makes an alliance with France in an attempt to weaken Prussia
Frederic forms an alliance with Britain
Frederic invades a small ally of Austria
A “world war” begins between these powerful countries which is fought in Europe, India and North America
Started by the “French and Indian War” in the USA
Outcome: British get control of French colonies in India and N. America
Outcome: 1.4 million dead across Europe

30. Seven Years War (blue vs. green)

31. Seven Years War

32. RUSSIA

33. Russia… How was Russia different from Western Europe?:
serfdom lasts much longer  until the 1800’s
Little contact with outside world because of conquest and climate
religious differences  Russians were Eastern Orthodox Christians and viewed European Catholics and Protestants as heretics who didn’t follow the true word of God

34. Russia… Peter the Great (1672 – 1725)
“the Grand Embassy” – a long visit to Western European nations to see how they did things differently
“westernization” – goal to modernize Russia using Western Europe as a model
reduces power of nobles (Boyars)
hires Europeans to train the army
introduces potatoes  increases population
starts a newspaper  increases literacy rate
gives women rights  takes away the whip
by the time of his death, Russia had become a major power in the Eastern Hemisphere