1. Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe

2. Western Absolutism
Leader
Government
Military
Religious
Secret police…JV Totalitarians

3. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Finance
Bureaucracy
Armies
Right to Rule
Religion

4. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Finance
Had to negotiate with nobles for grants of money
Had bureaucracy to run economy and collect taxes

5. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Bureaucracy
Crown Servants
High officials /nobles gained great wealth
Career officials from middle class – paid salaries
What is a bureaucracy?

6. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Armies
Armies raised only as needed
Maintained permanent standing armies

7. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Right to Rule
“By grace of God”
Had to respect laws
Divine Right
Responsible only to God

8. Absolute State and Medieval Government
Religion
Under the jurisdiction of the pope
Because king is chosen by God, rebellion can be seen as religious rebellion as well

9. I Kings—supporters of absolutism
Bishop Jacques Bossuet
Jean Bodin
Thomas Hobbes

10. The Golden Age of Spain 16th c.
Escorial of Philip II Inquisition

11. Decline of Spain 17th c.—economy
Expelled Muslims and Jews—good businessmen
Competition from Dutch and English trade
Small middle class—hard work was looked down on

12. Decline of Spain 17th c.—military and political
Battle of Spanish Armada
Treaty of the Pyrenees—1659

13. Baroque—the art of Absolutism
1600 – 1750
The more dramatic, the better!
Emotion and movement

14. Piazza (area outside) and Colonnade of St
Piazza (area outside) and Colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Gianlorenzo Bernini
“Arms” of the “Mother” Church reaching out to embrace all of Christendom
“Mother” Church

15. Reverse View of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Gianlorenzo Bernini

16. The Ecstasy of St. Teresa
Also by Bernini…
The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

17. Compare Davids

18. Versailles

19. “St. Francis in Ecstasy” Caravaggio, 1595
Very emotional work, not calm like the Renaissance, contrast of light and dark called chiarascuro to add drama

20. “David and Goliath” by Caravaggio

21. “The Elevation of the Cross” by Peter Paul Reubens,
Flemish painter (worked for Hapsburgs)
Note the use of the diagonal and motion to create a dramatic effect.

22. “The Garden of Love” Peter Paul Reubens, 1630-32

23. “Las Meninas” Diego Velázquez 1656

24. “Judith slaying Holofernes” Artemisia Gentileschi

25. Compared to the
Dutch Style

26. Rembrandt van Rijn ( )

27. Jan Vermeer ( )

28. Constitutionalism
Government power based on law
Rights and individual liberties

29. Netherlands—merchants held influence in the government

30. House of Orange
stadholder

31. Baruch Spinoza—Jewish philosopher allowed to speak freely—shows religious tolerance
Arminianism—Calvinism w/o Predestination

33. Sweden—a constitutional monarchy
Gustavus Adolphus
Focused on trade, not war