1. Absolutism in Europe
Western Civilization

2. What is it?
An Absolute monarch is one in which the king or queen heads a highly centralized system of government.
There are few checks on royal power.

3. Divine Right
Belief that a ruler derived absolute or complete authority to govern directly from God.
This meant that they were responsible to God.

4. Think about it…
As we go through the characteristics and examples of Absolute monarchs, consider the advantages and disadvantages of such a political system.
Think of how Canada might benefit or suffer under an Absolute monarch.

5. Features
Centralized power
Middle Class
Common people

6. Centralized power Centralized power Restrained the nobles.
Nobility was symbolic.
Medieval kings had to share power with the church & nobility.
Bureaucracies
Absolute monarchs developed the bureaucracies to serve the king/queen.
Career officials appointed by and solely accountable to the monarch.
Replaced nobility.
Public offices!

7. Economics Mercantilism:
More exports, limit imports!
Absolute monarchs created bureaucracies that directed the economic life of the country to the interests of the monarch
Taxes for example.
Compared to medieval monarchs who had to bargain with nobles for access to money.

9. Expansion
New territories acquired added to national wealth and prestige.

10. Role of the Middle Class
Wanted the stability of a monarch.
Stability is good for business.
Liked expansion and trade.
Monarchs used the middle class to consolidate their own power against the nobles.

11. Role of the Common People
Rise of nationalism.
Symbolic nature of the monarch.

12. Review The monarch commanded all the powers of the state:
Judicial, Military, Political, & Economic
Developed a centralized bureaucracy, a professional army, and a state-directed economy.
All of this was supervised by the monarch.

13. Is this not Totalitarianism?
Rule of absolute monarchs was not all-embracing because they lacked:
Financial resources
Military resources
Technology
Totalitarianism is a 20th century phenomenon.

15. Textbook Case Studies SPAIN: Expansion Decline Treasure and Expansion
Passionate and serious in his role
Decline
Religious differences
Economics
Dependent on Gold & Silver
Inflation & the cost of war (where have we heard this story before?)

16. Textbook Case Studies Spanish Decline:
Lack of a strong middle class (Expulsion of Moorish and Jewish communities)
Failed to invest in new enterprises
Agricultural crises
Population decline
International competition for trade (Dutch & English)
Colonies were developing localized economies
Inflation because of the flood of gold

17. France: Henry IV Restored order in a war-torn land.
Was a “caring” king
Rebuilt bureaucracy
Collected taxes (reduced taxes among overburdened peasants)
Strong Army
Encouraged new businesses

18. France: Cardinal Richelieu Limited power of the Huguenots
Destroyed fortified castles belonging to nobles (was a symbol of feudal independence)
Encouraged overseas trade
Nationalized culture (French language)

19. Cardinal Richelieu
Divided France into 32 districts, each with an Intendents to oversee.
Intendents transferred information between local communities and the king
Intendents had two jobs:
Enforce royal orders
Weaken the power of the nobility

20. France:
Louis XIV ( ):
Continued policy of centralizing government
Had a lot of talent
Sun King: “L’etat, c’est moi.”
Reorganized & increased standing army
Closely directed government administration
Intendants
Versailles: we will look at in more detail!
Reformed the tax system

21. Louis XIV :
French became the language of polite society and diplomacy.
Entertained nobility through state culture, while undermining their power.
Separated power from status!
Had a secret police force (foreshadows the 20th century)

22. Germany/Prussia I:
Hundreds of small, independent states: The Holy Roman Emperor had no real power
Reformation deepened differences between the various rulers (Peace of Augsburg)
Thirty Years’ War: devastated German states
Peace of Westphalia

23. Germany/Prussia The Great Elector: Frederick William
Built a strong army
Used the army to be a police force and they acted as tax collectors.
Increased revenues allowed the Great Elector to barter with the nobility.

24. Germany/Prussia Frederick William I:
Built up the army (included noble (became officers) and peasant classes)
Universities
Encouraged settlement to increase population
Huguenots from France

25. Germany/Prussia Frederick William I: Protestant work ethic
Cheap (unlike Louis XIV), lived off his own land’s earnings.
Profoundly militaristic! Obsessed with his military.
38000 => 83000

26. Germany/Prussia Frederick the Great
Military expansion, continued in his father’s footsteps and wanted to expand Prussia’s territory.
Fought with Maria Theresa of Austria

27. Russia: Peter the Great
Traveled and learned about the West and western technologies and developments
Hired western Europeans to teach Russians
Abolished certain traditional customs (no beards gentlemen)
Modeled his government on Louis XIV
Created St. Petersburg (access to trade)
Wanted a strong military

28. Russia: Catherine the Great Gave nobles a charter of rights
Expanded Russia
Won a warm-water port on the Black Sea

29. Setting the stage…
Eastern absolutism created an authoritarian tradition (can still be seen today)
Increase in serfdom
Opposite in west.
Nobles took more land from servants and more and more servants were forced into serfdom.