1. Absolutism

2. Absolutism. What is it?

3. Absolute Monarchs
Kings or queens who held all of the power within their state’s boundaries.
Goal was to control every aspect of society.

4. Believed in…
Divine right: idea that God created the monarchy and therefore he or she acted as God’s representative on earth.

5. An Absolute Monarch Answered to Nobody Except God.

6. Growth of Monarchs Decline in feudalism. Rise of cities.
Growth of national kingdoms
All resulted in centralized authority.

7. Rise of Absolutism
Religious and territorial conflicts between states led to almost continuous warfare.
This caused governments to build huge armies and raise taxes.
Peasants already suffering-can’t afford taxes.
Leads to revolt.

8. In Response… Leaders tried to increase own power by…
-regulating religion and social gatherings
-created new government roles

9. The Age of Absolutism

10. Who Are These Absolute Rulers?

11. King Philip II King of Spain and its colonies in the Americas
Shy, serious, religious, hard working, didn’t like people to help him, suspicious

12. King Philip II El Escorial, Spain:The palace of King Philip II
Describe this palace.

13. King Louis XIV The “Boy King”
Became king at age 7, but the throne was held for him until he came of age.
Mazarin watched throne, but nobility led riots and threatened the young king. They wanted power too.

14. Louis XIV Took throne at age 22.
Weakened power of nobility for threatening him when he was younger.
He excluded them from his councils.

15. Louis XIV The “Sun King”
Spent a fortune to surround himself in luxury.

16. The Grand Style of Louis XIV
Awoken at 8:30
100 of the “luckiest” nobles were there to help him dress.
However, only four were chosen to help him do so. This was a great honor.

17. Grand Style Cont.
Outside bedchamber, lesser nobles waited in the halls, hoping to be noticed.
If you were absent from this, it was not good.

18. More Grand Style
Keeping nobles in the palace increased royal authority in two ways:
Made nobles dependent on king
Increased power of intendants (collected taxes and administered justice)

19. Palace of Versailles

27. Versailles Statistics
2,000 acres of grounds
12 miles of roads
27 miles of trellises
200,000 trees
210,000 flowers planted every year
80 miles of rows of trees
55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal
12 miles of enclosing walls
50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles
21 miles of water conduits
3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed
26 acres of roof
51,210 square meters of floors
2,153 windows
700 rooms
67 staircases
6,000 paintings
1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings
2,100 sculptures
5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art
150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

28. How Much Did This Cost?
Only a ruler with total control over his country’s economy could afford such a lavish palace.
How much do you think it cost in today’s money?

29. 2.5 billion dollars in today’s money!
2.5 BILLION of today’s $

30. What Was He Like?
Patron of the arts
Party
Life of excess

31. Legacy of Louis XIV
Louis XIV fought many wars to expand France’s boundaries.
France was weakened by poor harvests.
People are starving, but Louis raises taxes to fund wars.

32. Positive and Negative France above all others in arts and literature.
Military leader of Europe.
Power allowed development of colonies overseas
France in staggering debt because of spending.
Abused power and left tax burden on people
This would plague his heirs

33. Questions What are the benefits of having an absolute ruler?
What are the drawbacks of having an absolute ruler?