1. Age of Absolutism
16th-17th Centuries

2. Characteristics
King or Queen has complete control over government & the people
Monarchs based their claim on Divine Right
***Authority comes from God
***Similar to “Mandate of Heaven”
But…
What is a key difference between divine right and the mandate of heaven?

3. Monarchs are “Above the Law”
No power checks
High taxes
Many Wars

4. Causes The Church in decline Feudalism in decline Nations on the rise
Exploration

5. Effects Declining Power of Nobility Theocracies Bureaucracies
Building Projects

6. Spain The Hapsburgs 1556 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V divides empire
Brother, Ferdinand I, rules Holy Roman Empire
Son, Phillip II, rules Spain, Netherlands, & Italy

7. Philip II (1556-1598) Video Promoted “Golden age of Spain”
Wealth from colonies helped buildup military
Defender of the Catholic Faith
1588-Spanish Armada defeated by England (Elizabeth I) “A Protestant Wind”
1600’s Spain’s power declines
Video

8. Pair-Share Even Partner: Describe characteristics of Absolutism.
Odd Partner: How did England become a world “superpower” in 1588?

9. France The Bourbon Monarchy
Henry IV increases power of Govt. & decreases power of nobility
Louis the XIII strengthens & builds up military
Cardinal Richelieu weakens nobles & Huguenots

10. Louis XIV Known as “The Sun King” Ruled for 72 years
Built the strongest army in Europe
Never called the Estates General
Persecuted the Huguenots
Built the Palace at Versailles Video

11. Russia 1480 Ivan III drive Mongols out
Early Tsars Ivan III & Ivan IV (Terrible) used harsh methods to unify Russia & strengthen Monarchy
1613 Michael Romanov begins Romanov Dynasty

12. Peter the Great Grand Embassy tour
Toured Europe learning new technologies
Westernization/Modernization
Introduced western ideas: laws, technology, culture

13. Built largest army in Europe
Won territory along the Baltic Sea
St. Petersburg becomes “Window to the West”
Major trading port & new capital

14. Centralized power
Reduced power of the nobility
Brought Orthodox Church under his control
video

15. Answer on your whiteboard:
1. Who was the “Sun King?”
2. How did he control the Nobles?
3. How did Tsar Peter the Great “Westernize” Russia?
4. What modern city did Peter the Great have built?

16. Round-Robin Begin with person 1, then 2, 3, & 4.
Each person answers one of the questions aloud.

17. Absolutism in England? Remember:
1215 King John forced to sign Magna Carta
Limited King’s powers
1295 Edward I established Model Parliament
House of Lords & House of Commons

18. Parliament blocked kings’ trying to gain absolute rule
The Tudor Monarchs( ) generally worked well with Parliament
E.g. Henry VIII & Elizabeth I

19. The Stuarts Had absolutist tendencies (Strong belief in Divine Right)
James I & son Charles I disagreed with Parliament over finance & foreign policy
Puritans hated them!

20. English Civil War!
Charles’s Cavaliers vs. Roundheads led by Oliver Cromwell
Charles I is overthrown by forces loyal to Parliament
Beheaded in 1649

21. The Commonwealth England became a Republic called the Commonwealth
At first Cromwell & Parliament share power
1653 Cromwell assumes Title of Lord Protector & rules as a dictator
Cromwell brutally put down revolts in Ireland & Scotland (Genocide)
video

22. Restoration to the Glorious Revolution
When Cromwell died, Parliament restored Stuart Monarchy to throne
Charles II & James II became unpopular—absolutists
Parliament feared return of the Catholic Church (James II)
Parliament overthrew James II & asked William & Mary to become king and queen (Glorious Revolution)

23. 1688-William & Mary sign English Bill of Rights
Guarantees Parliament’s power over the king and queen
England became a Limited Monarchy

24. On your Whiteboard: Place these events in order: Glorious Revolution
English Civil War
Restoration
England as a Commonwealth

25. Share your answers with your partner.
Pair-Share:
Share your answers with your partner.