The Age of Absolute Monarchs

The Age of Absolute Monarchs

• By the end of the Renaissance, new nations formed.
• Many of these nations were ruled by powerful kings with unlimited power.
• The era from 1600 to the mid-1700s is known as the Age of Absolute Monarchs.

The Rise of Absolute Monarchs (Middle Ages)

• During the Middle Ages, European kings were not very powerful.
• Feudal lords held real power, controlling local manors and having loyalty of the people.
• The Catholic Church was the dominant religion and the Pope had power over the peasants.

The Rise of Absolute Monarchs (Factors Contributing)

• The Crusades stimulated trade and led to the rise of cities.
• The Renaissance and trade weakened the power of feudal lords.
• The Hundred Years' War involved new weapons. Longbows and cannons weakened the power of nobles and knights increased the power of kings.
• The power of the Catholic Church weakened after the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation.
• As the Church's power declined, the power of kings increased.

How Absolute Monarchs Worked

• During the Renaissance, European kings taxed merchants and bankers to increase their wealth for build centralized governments.
• Some monarchs used overseas exploration to gain colonies and increase their power.

Absolute Monarchy

• An absolute monarchy is a government where one king holds all the power within a nation.
• Absolute monarchs controlled all aspects of their nations (taxes, religion, military, economy).
• Absolute monarchs believed in divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy and kings answered only to God, not to the people.

Louis XIV of France

• France was in conflict between Catholics and French Protestants (Huguenots) before Louis XIV came to power.
• Louis XIV had a positive economic impact by encouraging manufacturing using overseas colonies and mercantilism to make France self-sufficient.
• Louis XIV had a negative impact due to expensive wars which failed to gain new lands.
• Louis XIV built the massive Palace of Versailles to glorify himself, using wealth and art.

Peter the Great of Russia

• Russia before Peter the Great was isolated from Western Europe and lagged in ideas and technology.
• Ivan III was the first czar. Russian czars expanded borders, gained power over nobles, established absolute monarchy.
• Peter the Great worked to modernize and westernize Russia, touring Europe in disguise to learn new ways.
• Peter the Great made several reforms after returning from Europe, including adopting European fashions, improving farming techniques, and establishing a modern army and factories.

The Legacy of Louis XIV

• Louis XIV's reign led to France becoming the most powerful nation but also left the nation with massive debts from lavish spending and heavy taxes.
• French people eventually grew frustrated and overthrew the monarchy.

The Legacy of Peter the Great

• Peter the Great resulted in Russia becoming a more advanced nation.
• Modernization was a slow process, and Russia did not fully industrialize until after World War I.
• Revolutions in World War I overthrew the monarchy and created a new government based on socialism.

Elizabeth I of England

• England's monarchs had limited power compared to other European nations.
• The Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215, limited the king's power.
• Parliament is a legislative group, consisting of members of the commons and lords, who worked with the king. This resulted in limited monarchy in England.
• During her reign, Elizabeth worked with Parliament to settle important issues, especially issues of religion (Anglican or Catholic).
• The Act of Uniformity formalized English Protestantism.
• She supported capitalism and mercantilism using joint-stock companies to encourage trade.
• During her reign, England experienced a golden age of culture, especially literature and theater.
• Queen Elizabeth refused to share power with a male.

The Stuart Monarchy

• After Elizabeth's death in 1603, the Stuart family assumed the monarchy.
• The Stuart kings didn't work with Parliament and tried to create an absolute monarchy, which resulted in conflicts, a near civil war, and the Glorious Revolution.

The Bill of Rights

• After the Glorious Revolution, Parliament required the new monarchs to sign the Bill of Rights.
• The Bill of Rights protected citizens from their government.
  • The King couldn't tax or overturn Parliament's laws.
  • Freedom of speech was protected.
• The Army could not be used by the government without an act of Parliament.
• The Magna Carta, along with the Bill of Rights, created a constitutional monarchy in England.