Age of Absolute Monarchs

THE AGE OF ABSOLUTE MONARCHS

I. Overview of the Age of Absolute Monarchs
A. By the end of the Renaissance, new nations were formed in Europe
1. Many of these nations were ruled by powerful kings with unlimited power known as absolute monarchs. The era from 1600 to mid-1700s was known as THE AGE OF ABSOLUTISM unlimited power.
II. The Rise of Absolute Monarchs
A. During the MIDDLE AGES, European kings WERE NOT very powerful
1. Instead, FEUDAL LORDS had real power because they controlled local manors and had the loyalty OF KNIGHTS
2. The CATHOLIC CHURCH was the dominant religion in Europe. The POPE had power over the peasants
B. THE CRUSADES stimulated TRADE and led to the rise of CITIES in Europe
1. This trade sparked the RENAISSANCE_ and weakened the power OF FEUDAL LORDS(with trade, people had a new way to make money, and didn’t need to work for feudal lords)
2. As feudalism declined, the power of KINGS INCREASED
C. During the HUNDRED YEARS WAR, new weapons like the CANNON AND LONGBOW weakened the power of the nobles and knights
1. As feudalism declined, the power of kings INCREASED
D. The power of the Catholic Church WEAKENED as a result of the Crusades and the PROTESTANT REFORMATION
1. As the power of the Church declined, the power of kings INCREASED
E. During the Renaissance, European kings TAXED merchants and bankers and used the WEALTH to build powerful ARMIES
1. Monarchs used their POWER to build CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENTS to control their nations
2. Some monarchs used OVERSEAS EXPLORATION to GAIN COLONIES and to increase their wealth and power
F. By 1600, some European kings had become ABSOLUTE MONARCHS
1. Absolute monarchy is a government in which ONE KING should hold ALL the POWER within a country
2. Absolute monarchs controlled all aspects of their nations, including taxes, RELIGION, the MILITARY, and the economy
3. Absolute monarchs believed IN DIVINE RIGHT the idea that GOD created the monarchy and kings answered only to God, not the PEOPLE
III. European Monarchs
A. King Louis XIV (the 14th) of France
1. France before King Louis XIV
a. Before Louis XIV came to power, France was a nation in CONFLICT between CATHOLICS and French Protestants (called HUGUENOTS)
b. King Henry IV tried to fix this issue by declaring religious CATHOLIC called the Edict of Nantes
c. After Henry IV died, CATHOLIC leaders took control of France, ended the EDICT OF NANTES
2. Louis XIV’s reign
a. By the time Louis XIV came to power, France was an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
i. Louis XIV ruled France FOR 72 YEARS and became the classic example of AN ABSOLUTE MONACH
ii.Louis XIV believed that he WAS the government: (“L’etat c’est moi”) “I AM THE STATE’ He excluded NOBLES from government decisions and hired bureaucrats to collect taxes and ENFORCE LAWS
iii.Louis XIV called himself the “SUN KING” because he felt that French POWER emanated from him (like rays from the Sun)
b. Louis XIV had a POSITIVE IMPACT on France:
i. His economic advisors used overseas colonies and MERCANTILISM to generate NEW WEALTH
ii. He encouraged MANUFACTURING to make France self-sufficient
iii. With this wealth, Louis built a powerful ARMY and transformed France into the most powerful nation in Europe
c. Louis XIV also had A NEGATIVE IMPACT on France:
i. He involved France in EXPENSIVE WARS that failed to gain France new lands and led to MASSIVE DEBTS
ii. He used wealth and art to GLORIFY HIMSELF, including constructing a massive palace called VERSAILLES
3. The Legacy of Louis XIV
a. As a result of Louis XIV, France was, for a time, the most POWERFUL NATION in Europe
b. But, decades of lavish SPENDINGby monarchs led to massive DEBT and HEAVY TAXES
c. Eventually, the French people grew FRUSTRATED AND OVERTHEW THE MONARCHY.

B. Peter the Great of Russia
1. Russia BEFORE Peter the Great
a. Russia’s was influenced by THE BYZANTINE Empire but was conquered by the MONGOLS
b. Ivan III successfully liberated Russia from the Mongols and ruled as the first CZAR (“CAESAR” or “king”)
c. Over time, czars expanded Russia’s borders, increased their power over THE NOBLES, and created an absolute monarchy
2. Peter the Great
a. By the time Peter the Great became czar in 1682, Russia was a LARGE EMPIRE
b. But Russia was not AS ADVANCE as Western European nations
c. Russia was ISOLATED from Western Europe and knew very little about the new ideas of the RENAISSANCE
i. While European nations grew wealthy from TRADE, made cultural advances, & had strong INDUSTRY… Russia had no advanced INDUSTRY, no overseas colonies, and an economy of small-scale FARMERS
ii. Most Russians were FEUDAL PEASANTS working for nobles (called BOYARS)
d. Czar Peter the Great wanted TO MODERNIZE and “WESTERNIZE” Russia to catch up with Europe
i. In disguise, Peter TOURED EUROPE to learn new ways to modernize Russia
ii. While in Europe, Peter learned new IDEAS ABOUT SHIPBUILDING, manufacturing, government organization, CITY PLANNING, music, and FASHION
iii. When he returned from Europe, Peter imposed NEW REFORMS to Westernize Russia
iv. Peter expanded Russia’s BORDERS and built a new “European-style” Russian CAPITAL at St. Petersburg
3. The Legacy of Peter the Great
a. As a result of Peter the Great, Russia became a more ADVANCED, Western nation
b. But, modernization was a SLOW process and Russia had not fully industrialized by WORLD WAR I
c. In World War I, revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy and created A RADICAL new gov’t based on SOCIALISM
C. Elizabeth I (the 1st) of England
1. England BEFORE Elizabeth
a. Unlike other nations in Europe, England had a LIMITED monarchy rather than an absolute monarchy
i. During the Middle Ages, English nobles REVOLTED against a cruel king who overtaxed them. In 1215, nobles forced King John to sign the MAGNA CARTA which limited the king’s power and protected citizens’ rights
ii. The Magna Carta created a LIMITED MONARCHY_” and led to the formation of PARLIAMENT in 1295.
Parliament is a legislative group of commoners and lords who work with the king to pass LAWS and TAXES
b. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, transformed England during the Protestant Reformation by creating the ANGLICAN Church
c. After Henry’s death, his DAUGHTER MARY converted England back to CATHOLICISM. Protestants who ignored BLOODY MERY” were executed
2. Elizabeth I’s reign
a. After Mary’s death in 1558, ELIZABETH became queen
i. Elizabeth ruled FOR 45 YEARS and became the GREATEST MONARCH in English history
ii. Elizabeth REFUSED to SHARE POWER with a man and never married (she was known as the “VIRGIN Queen”)
b. During her reign, Elizabeth WORKED WITH Parliament to settle important issues
i. One of the most important issues was to determine what RELIGION England would be: Anglican or Catholic?
(a) Elizabeth and Parliament passed the ACT OF UNIFORMITY which made Anglicanism the official religion of England…but many CATHOLIC TRADITIONS and rituals remained. This COMPROMISE MOSTLY SETTLED THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE IN ENGLAND.
ii. She promoted CAPITALISM_ and mercantilism by encouraging joint-stock companies to INVEST in OVERSEAS EXPORATIONS AND COLONIZATION
iii. During Elizabeth’s reign, England experienced a GOLDEN AGE in culture, especially literature and theater
3. England after Elizabeth: After Elizabeth’s death in 1603, the STUART family assumed the monarchy
i. These Stuart kings refused to work with Parliament and tried to create an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY in England
ii. Conflicts between PARLIAMENT led to a violent CIVIL WAR in 1642… and a near civil war in 1688 called the GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
b. After the Glorious Revolution, Parliament required the new monarchs to sign a BILL OF RIGHTS
c. The Bill of Rights protected CITIZENS_ from their government. The king cannot TAX or overturn Parliament’s laws. Protected freedom of SPEECH_The army cannot be used as a police force. No excessive BAIL
d. Together, the Magna carta and Bill of Rights created a “CONSTITUTIONAL MONORCHY” in England by serving as written LIMITS on the king’s power