1. Age of Absolutism

2. Absolutism (What is it?)
Absolute rulers controlled every aspect of an empire’s affairs.
Believed in “divine right”
God created the monarchy
Monarch was God’s representative on earth
Monarch answered only to God

3. Akbar the Great: India – Late 1500s
Mughal Empire in India (Mongols)
Tripled in size by the end of his life
modernized army
promoted trade
Political and Social structure Religious tolerance and allowed Hindu in gov’t (he was Muslim)
Arts and Achievements: Empire larger than any in Europe and extremely diverse

4. Phillip II: Spain 1556 - 1598 Military
Over spends financing wars vs. England
Fights Ottoman Turks defending Catholicism against Muslims
Leaves Spain bankrupt

5. Phillip II: Spain 1556 - 1598 Economy
Places heavy tax burden on middle class
Relies on gold and silver production from Spanish colonies

6. Phillip II: Spain 1556 - 1598 Politics and Social Structure
Claimed “divine right”
Extends power of the Catholic Church
Persecutes Protestants
Catholic Spain vs. Protestant England (Queen Elizabeth I)
Spanish Armada suffers humiliating defeat
England replaces Spain as world’s most powerful empire

7. Defeat of the Spanish Armada: “Fire Ships”

8. Phillip II: Spain 1556 - 1598 Achievements
Prior to defeat by English Spain enjoys Golden Age under leadership of Phillip II
Renaissance art, literature, music, poetry
Overseas colonies

9. Peter the Great: Russia 1682 - 1725
Military
Modernizes army
Uses qualified officers
Defeats Sweden to gain warm water port on the Baltic FOR TRADE

10. Warm Water Port on Baltic

11. Peter the Great: Russia 1682 - 1725
Economy
Develops mining and clothing productions
Collects Taxes

12. Peter the Great: Russia 1682 - 1725
Political and Social Structure
Took control of Russian Orthodox Church
Reduced power of wealthy landowners
Recruited and promoted lower class indv. w/ gifts of land in exchange for their loyalty

13. Peter the Great: Russia 1682 - 1725
Westernizes Russia
effort to modernize
Started Russia’s 1st newspaper + served as editor
More women’s rights by allowing them to attend social events
Nobles forced to give up traditional clothing for Western fashions
Introduced the potato to Russian diet.

14. Peter’s Trip to Western Europe

15. Peter the Great: Russia 1682 - 1725
Promoted education and economic growth
Moved capital from Moscow to warm water port city of St. Petersburg

16. New Russian Capital: St. Petersburg

17. Louis XIV: France
Military: Increased French troops to 400,000 in times of war
Personally led troops in battle
Highly organized and disciplined
Expanded size of empire

18. Louis XIV: France 1643 - 1715 Economy: Mercantilism (what is it?)
Increase manufacturing
Reduce need for imports
High tariffs (tax) on imports
Encouraged colonization of Canada
Fur trade

20. Louis XIV: France 1643 - 1715 Political and Social Structure
Weakened power of nobles
Forced to live with him and act as his servants
Louis XIV was Catholic…
Persecuted Huguenots
French Protestants
Edict of Nantes removes protection for Protestants

21. Louis XIV: France 1643 - 1715 Achievements Palace of Versailles
2,000 rooms
15,000 acres of gardens
1,400 fountains
36,000 laborers
Approximately $2 billion US has been spent on it
Elegant French court
Every meal a major feast
500 cooks and waiters
100 servants to dress him

22. Palace of Versailles

23. Palace of Versailles

24. Palace of Versailles

25. Louis XIV: France 1643 - 1715 Sun King Achievements
Art used to promote the monarch and the rule of Louis XIV
“Sun King” – symbol of his power
“I am the state”
What does this quote imply about Louis XIV?

26. Art used to glorify Louis XIV