1. Introduction to Absolutism

2. Journal #10
What comes to mind when you think of an Absolute Ruler? Examples?

3. Charles V Member of the Hapsburg royal family
King of Spain, part of Italy, Austria, Holland (odd collection of countries)
Also was Holy Roman Emperor, so he controlled large parts of Germany

4. Charles V Charles V disgusted by Peace of Augsburg
Q: What was the Peace of Augsburg?
Decides to quit his job, retires to a monastery, divides up his empire
Ferdinand gets Austria and the Holy Roman Empire
Philip II gets Spain, Holland, and Spain’s colonies in America

5. Philip II Philip loses the Netherlands Philip’s Armada defeated
Netherlands now biggest trading power in Europe
Philip’s Armada defeated
England now most powerful country in Europe
Drove Philip to rule Spain even more tightly then ever – absolute control
Absolutism – king or queen holding all of the power within their nation’s borders

6. Absolutism
Philip, despite losing so much, ruled Spain with an iron fist – he controlled every aspect of his empire’s business
This began the idea that monarchs could rule absolutely, or in totality – did as they wanted
Goal was to control every aspect of society

7. Absolutism Monarchs also believed in divine right
God created the monarchy and the monarch was God’s representative on earth
Monarchs grew richer and more powerful
Merchants and traders supported them because the monarch could guarantee peace
More peace = more money
Church was weaker at the same time (Reformation)

8. Causes of Absolutism
Religious/territorial conflict = uncertainty and fear
Big armies required higher taxes to support them
Peasants revolted against taxes
Kings rules even more harshly

9. Effects of Absolutism Kings regulated worship and social gatherings
Q: Why would they do this?
Royal courts made larger to impress people with their size
Bureaucracies created to control economies

10. A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution