1. What does it mean to be an absolute ruler?
Bell Ringer
What does it mean to be an absolute ruler?

2. Spain’s Empire and European Absolutism
5.1

3. Powerful Spanish Empire
Phillip II: inherited Spain, Spanish Netherlands, and American colonies
Seized Portuguese kingdom
Grew extremely wealthy
Duty to defend Catholicism
1588: Sent Spanish Armada to fight English Protestants – he was defeated

4. Spanish Empire Weakens
Experienced inflation: decline in the value of money/prices go up
Population kept growing
Silver bullion flooded the market
Tax burden was on lower classes (no middle class)
Purchased goods from other countries (spending money…)
Borrowed money for wars from German and Italian bankers

5. The Dutch Revolt Maintained an army to keep them under control
Many in Neth. were Calvinists – Spain was Catholic
1566: Phillip raised taxes and attempted to punish Protestants
1579: Neth. declared independence from Spain

6. Absolutism in Europe Rulers wanted to be absolute rulers
Believed in divine right
Ruler answers only to God
After Middle Ages, monarchs became very powerful
Support of middle class
Wealth from colonies
Broken Church
Religious/territorial wars caused monarchs to build armies ($$)
Caused unrest
Monarchs began regulating everything