1. CHAPTER 17 LESSON 1 NOTES: THE AGE OF ABSOLUTISM (1550 – 1800):
[A 16th to 19th century period of time when European monarchs took autocratic control, causing religious, civil, and political wars]
THE HAPSBURG DYNASTY
RULES SPAIN
H.R. Emperor Charles V is the grandson of Spain’s Ferdinand and Isabella, who are known for their successful efforts during the time period called the Reconquista]

2. Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor; inherits Spanish monarchy as King Charles I
heir to Austrian & Sp. Hapsburg empire that includes the Netherlands & the Americas
adopts law called the Peace of Augsburg in1555 during the Protestant Reformation that first began in the HRE (each German prince chooses his state’s religion of either
Catholicism or
Lutheranism
son, Philip II, inherits all except the H.R.E. in 1556

3. PHILIP II
[husband to England’s
“Bloody” Mary Tudor]

4. Philip II rules Spain for the next 42 years, expanding Hapsburg influence, strengthening the Christian religion of Catholicism,
reigning as an absolute, divine right monarch from his palace/monastary/church, the Escorial

5. gains Portugal & its colonies, giving Philip II a world-wide empire
defends Catholicism by defeating Muslim forces at the Battle of Lepanto in Ionian Sea off coast of Greece
Iberian Peninsula P o r t u g a l
Spain

6. plot fails; Mary Stuart, is tried for treason in England and beheaded
increases efforts of the Catholic Church’s Inquisition Courts to search out and try heretics according to canon law
leads Spain’s Golden Age: founds academies of science / mathematics; participates as an art patron [supporter]
was a conspirator in the Babington Plot to assassinate last Tudor ruler of England,
Protestant Queen Elizabeth I and to replace her with dethroned Scottish queen, Mary Stuart, Catholic heir-apparent to the throne of England;
plot fails; Mary Stuart, is tried for treason in England and beheaded

7. loses the Invincible Armada; defeated by England’s Elizabeth I in1588

8. flooding the Dutch lowlands to drown the enemy: William establishes an
loses the Spanish Netherlands: is defeated by military leader, William of Orange (“the Silent”) the “Father” of the Netherlands with use guerrilla warfare and the strategy of
flooding the Dutch lowlands to drown the enemy: William establishes an
Independent Dutch republic, called the “United Provinces the Netherlands” which accepts all religious faiths
Philip II’s successors weak; contributed to the economic and political decline of Spain by the 17th century
France replaces Spain as the leading European power

9. THE BOURBON DYNASTY RULES FRANCE
The arms of the
House of Bourbon
One Bourbon king says, “I am the trendsetter in art, lit, architecture, & clothing styles for Europe for more than a half a century”

10. the first Bourbon king converts from Calvinism as a Huguenot to Catholicism but the king then
passes the Edict of Nantes, granting religious freedom to his former Huguenot association, thereby
bringing peace to France

11. Louis XIII

12. in government positions rather than the power-hungry French nobles
chooses Catholic Cardinal Richelieu as his most able chief minister who uses the more loyal middle class, the bourgeoisie
in government positions rather than the power-hungry French nobles
[a lover of
14 cats]
“The Cardinal made provision for all his cats, and their two attendants in his will, but sadly, as soon as he died, the soldiers of his Swiss Guard burned the poor creatures to death as vengeance for the many witches and their cats that Richelieu had put to death in his lifetime.”
[in 16th & 17th centuries, France put to death 75,000 witches & their cats, if they could be caught]

13. Richelieu’s major goal is to increase the power of the French Bourbons in Europe while at the same time weakening the power of the Austrian Hapsburg dynasty by:
helping to defeat the Austrian Hapsburgs in the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) that began in the H.R.E. between Catholics and Calvinists in which France’s Catholic Cardinal Richelieu supports the Protestant side;
the Peace of Westphalia ends the war, recognizing Calvinism in the H.R.E. and allowing the French Bourbons to become Europe’s leading power, having now defeated the Hapsburgs

14. rules as the “Sun King” rules for 72 yrs. From 1643 to 1715; Catholic,
Louis XIV
rules as the “Sun King” rules
for 72 yrs. From 1643
to 1715; Catholic,
absolute, and a
divine right king, who claims “I am the state”
“When France
sneezes, all of Europe
catches cold.” (while Louis XIV rules)
[Louis XIV - crowned by Providence, defended by angels, trampling his enemies] (Charles Lebrun, 1677) 

15. centralizes his government at the Palace of Versailles [just 20 miles outside Paris]

16. acquires a valuable region called Alsace, rich in coal and iron
bases French economy on a strong favorable balance of trade, exporting more goods rather than importing too many goods
revokes the Edict of Nantes, forcing many
Huguenots to flee their
homeland, demanding all in France to practice
Catholicism

17. causes a balance of power struggle called the
War of the Spanish Succession
Louis claims empty throne of Spain causing a panic in Europe because two Bourbon kings would be sitting side by side, causing power to favor France
France
Spain

18. Hohenzollern coat of arms
the Grand Alliance that includes Britain & Prussia, defeats France, thus, preventing two Bourbon kings from ruling side by side;
Treaty of Utrecht ends conflict and allows France to keep Alsace if Louis agrees to never unite Spain & France under one monarchy:
Hohenzollern dynasty of Prussia, becomes independent of the H.R.E. and the Hapsburgs;
Find Prussia. What city is located within Prussia?
Hohenzollern coat of arms

19. Great Britain becomes #1 colonial & naval power in Europe
Louis XIV dies at the age of 77, leaving a weakened France to his 5-yr. old great-grandson, Louis XV in 1715
takes throne at age 16

20. CHAPTER 17 TEST REVIEW SHEET
1. Which age is characterized by religious, civil, and
political conflicts in Europe that were led by divine right rulers?
Absolutism 
Which ruler centralized his government from the Escorial, increased the efforts of the Catholic Inquisition, and his Armada was defeated by England?
Philip II 
Which Iberian territory gave this Spanish king a world-wide empire?
Portugal
Which religious group did Philip’s Catholic forces defeat at Lepanto?
Muslims 
5. Which Hapsburg possession revolted against Philip
with the use of guerrilla warfare and flooding its lowlands?
the Netherlands

21. How did Henry IV of France bring peace to his country?
passed the Edict of Nantes, giving religious freedom to Huguenots
Cardinal Richelieu worked to increase the power of the __ Dynasty and worked to weaken the __Dynasty.
Bourbon / Hapsburg
a. Which Catholic French king was an absolute monarch who was known as the “Sun King?”
Louis XIV
b. Why was he named the Sun King?
he claimed to be the center of the universe
Which territory acquired by France was rich in coal and iron?
Alsace

22. NAME THE LEADER WHO:
14. became known as the Father of the Netherlands –
William of Orange (“the Silent”)
21. married “Bloody” Mary Tudor and unified Catholic Spain and England –
Philip II
NAME THE COUNTRY THAT:
29. led Europe during the 72-year reign of its Sun King –
France
IDENTIFY THE TERM OR LAW THAT:
39. is a French Calvinist –
Huguenot
42. is the French middle class –
bourgeoisie
45. allowed Catholics and Lutherans to practice their religions freely in the H.R.E. –
Peace of Augsburg
47. gave religious freedom to French Calvinists –
Edict of Nantes