1. The Age of Absolutism (1650 – 1800)
Lecture One

2. Overview What is History? Sources Absolute Monarchies
Spain, France, England, Russia, Austria, Prussia and the Americas
Habsburg, Bourbon, Stuart, Romanov and Hohenzollern
Colonialism
Parliament
Enlightenment
Revolution

3. What is History? “History is but a fable agreed upon…”
- Napoleon Bonaparte OR
“History happens…”
“Only the victors write history.”
“History is what we remember.”
“History…who cares?”

4. History is… An event A person, place or thing Needs proof
Is an interpretation
Is constantly evolving...stay tuned!

5. Sources…prove it!
Primary Sources – made during the time being studied:
Written – Annals, eg. “Annals Cambriae”; Polemics (from the time), eg. The Venerable Bede; Histories, eg. Geoffrey of Monmouth; letters, diaries, etc.
Non Written – Archaeology; later-recordings, photos etc.
Secondary Sources – made after the time being studied:
Written – Text Books, Histories, biographies etc.
Non Written – everything else!!!
Secondary sources are a great place to start, then support with Primary sources!

6. Absolute Monarchies
The 17th and 18th centuries were the age of the absolute monarchies.
Absolutism had its beginning in the great national monarchies of the 16th century.
www2.wwnorton.com/.../resource/absolute.htm

7. Spain, France, England, Russia, Austria, Prussia and the Americas
These countries consolidated their empires in a period known as the “Golden Age”, made possible by their rich possessions in the New World and their dynastic lands in Europe.

8. Habsburg, Bourbon, Stuart, Romanov and Hohenzollern
The Habsburgs extended their reign from Spain to Austria, giving rise to the Holy Roman Empire
The Bourbon kings would be one of the most successful of the French rulers
From Elizabeth (a Tudor), the Stuart line would dominate Britain
The Russian Romanov and the Prussian Hohenzollern rulers would govern their countries with iron fists

9. Colonialism
The power and prestige of the emerging powerhouses of Europe was founded on their ability to exploit their colonial ambitions

10. Parliament
However, as the strength of the Kings increased, so to did an awareness of an individual’s rights
Concepts of representation, democracy and freedom were cautiously courted
English parliament in front of the king

11. Enlightenment
Throughout Europe, an emerging philosophy which taught that man was essentially good and reasonable and therefore able to rule himself, challenged ideas of absolute monarchies. Such thinkers were called ‘enlightened’
archives.gallaudet.edu/EnlightenmentEra.htm

12. Revolution
With the enlightenment, came a real sense of justice and democracy, absolute monarchies were challenged, sometimes violently.
Perhaps the most famous of these challenges was the French Revolution of the late 18th Century

13. Beginnings of Modern World History
Strong National Identity
Democracy
Violent Revolution
Science and Reason
Philosophy
Christianity Re-defined
World Economies
The Modern World was just around the corner…
Enlightenment: meeting to discuss "L'Encyclopedie"