1. Absolutism
SSWH14 The student will analyze the Age of Revolutions and Rebellions.
a. Examine absolutism through a comparison of the rules of Louis XIV, Tsar Peter the Great, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

2. Absolutism
A political system in which a ruler holds total power (p. 441)
Tied to the divine right of kings
Kings responsible to no one but God
Absolute monarchs had tremendous powers such as to make laws, levy taxes, administer justice, control the state’s officials, and determine foreign policy

3. Louis XIV – The Sun King Reigned 1643 – 1715
Long regarded as the best example of the practice of absolutism in the 17th century
Came to the throne in 1643 at the age of 4
Took over supreme power at the age of 23 with the death of chief minister Cardinal Mazarin

4. Louis XIV

5. Government & Religion under Louis XIV
One of the keys to his power was his control of the central policy making of the government
Royal court established at Versailles had three purposes
Personal household of the king
Chief offices of the state were located there
Powerful subjects came to find favors & offices for themselves

6. Govt. & Religion Under Louis XIV Continued….
Government ministers EXPECTED to obey his every wish.
Complete authority over foreign policy, the Church, and taxes
In the provinces, the king had less power so he bribed important people to guarantee his policies were carried out
Goal to make France the preeminent power in Europe & achieve military glory

8. How did Louis XIV achieve his goal?
He waged 4 wars between 1667 and 1713.

9. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia
One of most prominent members of the Romanov dynasty
Became czar (or tsar) in 1689
Absolutist monarch who claimed divine right to rule
Visited the west and came back determined to westernize or Europeanize Russia
Under Peter, Russia became a great military power
By his death, Russia was an important European state

11. Military & Government Changes
Reorganize the army
Form the first Russian navy
Divided Russia into provinces
Hoped to create a police state
Hoped for civic duty from officials, but his fears prevented it

12. Cultural Changes
Began to introduce Western customs, practices, & manners into Russia
Beards were shaved and coats shortened to imitate the west
Insisted Russian upper class women remove the veils that had traditionally covered their face and move out into society

13. St. Petersburg
Object of reforms = Make Russia into a great state and military power
To do this he needed a port with access to Europe
A long and hard fought war with Sweden achieved this goal
St. Petersburg- a port city on the Baltic Sea became the capital and would remain such until 1918

14. St. Petersburg

15. Tokugawa Ieyasu Moved Japan’s capital to Edo, the later became Tokyo
He required the daimyo to spend every other year at the capital so he could keep an eye on them.
Reducing the power of the daimyo helped restore a centralized government.
He established the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The rule of law overcame rule by the sword.