Age of Revolution Absolutism in Europe - PowerPoint Presentation

Age of Revolution Absolutism in Europe

France Under Louis XIV One response to the crises of the seventeenth century was increasing the power of the monarch to achieve stability Absolutism: a system in which the ruler holds total power Idea was tied to the divine right of kings

France Under Louis XIV Reign of Louis XIV considered best example of absolutism French culture, language, and manners reached into all levels of European society The court of Louis XIV was imitated throughout Europe

Cardinal Richelieu Prior to Louis XIV, France experienced a period of struggle as governments fought the breakdown of the state Cardinal Richelieu, minister to Louis XIII played an important role in preserving the authority of the monarchy

Cardinal Richelieu Strengthened the power of the French monarchy French Huguenots (French protestants) were seen as a threat, and Richelieu took away political and military rights while preserving religious rights Established a spy network to uncover conspiracies by nobles

Louis XIV in Power Louis XIV took over supreme power in 1661, stating his desire to be the sole ruler of France Kept a strict routine and established himself as the Sun King- the source of light for his people

Louis XIV in Power Louis established his royal court at Versailles Royal council was the personal household of the king Chief offices of the state located there Place where powerful subjects find favor and offices for themselves Removed highest nobles and princes from the royal council Kept them at his court to keep them busy with court life and out of politics

Louis XIV in Power Louis government ministers were to obey his every wish Held complete control over traditional areas of royal power: foreign policy, church, and taxes Bribed important people in the provinces to ensure his policies were carried out at local level

Jean-Baptiste Colbert Controller-general of finances for Louis XIV Played extremely important role due to cost of building palaces, maintaining court, and pursuing wars

Jean-Baptiste Colbert Sought to raise money by following mercantilism Wanted to decrease imports and increase exports (gave subsidies to new industries) Built roads and canals to improve communication and movement of goods within France Placed tariffs on foreign goods to decrease imports

Louis XIV’s Wars Developed a strong standing army of 400,000 in time of war Fought 4 wars between 1667 and 1713 Added some territory and set up a member of his own Bourbon dynasty on the throne of Spain Died in 1715 leaving France surrounded by enemies and many of his people in poverty

The Spread of Absolutism Out of the Thirty Years’ War, Prussia and emerged in the 17 th and 18 th century as two great absolute European Powers At the beginning of the 17 th century, Spain was the most populous empire in the world Although Spanish monarchy attempted to centralize power, Philip IV was unable to curtail the power of Spanish nobles

Emergence of Prussia Frederick William laid the foundation of the Prussian state Built a large, efficient standing army to protect Prussia Set up the General War Commissariat to levy taxes to fund the army Became the chief way the government was administered

Peter the Great A powerful Russian state began to emerge in the 15 th century Principality of Muscovy ruled by grand dukes led the emergence of Russia Ivan IV became the first ruler to use the title czar (Russian for Caesar)

Peter the Great Under the reign of Ivan IV, he expanded Russian territory eastward and crushed the power of the Russian nobility Known as Ivan the Terrible due to his ruthless deeds After his death there was a period of anarchy before the national assembly established Michael Romanov as czar in 1613

Peter the Great Romanov dynasty ruled Russia until 1917 One of the most prominent members was Peter the Great who became czar in 1689 Absolute monarch who claimed a divine right to rule After visiting the west, he became determined to westernize Russia, borrowing European technology

Peter the Great Modernized Russia’s army and navy to make Russia a great power Employed Europeans as officers to train Russian military Drafted Russian peasants to 25-year stints in Russian standing army Introduced western customs, practices, and manners in Russia Ordered first Russian book of etiquette to teach Western manners

Peter the Great Ordered men to shave their beards and shorten their coats Women allowed to remove their traditional face-covering veils Fought a war with Sweden to gain a port on the Baltic Sea to open a “window to the West” Built the city of St. Petersburg which became the Russian capital until 1918