1	ABSOLUTISM
2	Timeline 1469 Ferdinand and Isabella begin to rule Castile and Aragon 1517 Protestant Reformation starts 1556-98 Phillip II of Spain 1598 Henry IV - Edict of Nantes 1648 Treaty of Westphalia ends 30 years war 1649 Charles I executed by act of Parliament 1685 Louis XIV revokes Edict of Nantes
3	Introduction From 1500-1600 two main forms of government arise, absolutism and constitutionalism Absolutism is: Sovereignty - the power and right to rule resides exclusively with the King and not the nobles nor any assembly. This represents a real change from late medieval reality. The idea of the Divine Right of Kings is an important focus for this thought.
4	Absolutism Limited in its power - not a “totalitarian” state (Dictatorship) Developed ways to control society State bureaucracies Committee structures of government Standing armies Economic control: mercantilism.
5	Failed Absolutism Poland The "Noble Republic" - the nobles elected the kings Any noble could veto any law in the parliament Consequences? No central government serfs oppressed by nobles easy prey to enemies eventual disappearance of Poland from map of Europe.
6	Eastern Europe c. 1570
7	Absolutism Attempted Spain rule of Phillip II (r. 1556-98) shows the hallmarks of later absolutism centralizing control, central source of authority, bureaucracy, state control of Church, build new capitol (and palace) had trouble in the New World viceroys conquistadors.
8	Spanish European Lands
9	The Decline of Spain Appearance vs. Reality Spain controls large parts of the New World, Asia and Africa and has trade routes between them – appears to be rich and powerful Actually, the treasury is empty, the armed forces are out of date, government is inefficient, commercial class is weak, peasants are suppressed and there are too many nobles and priests Bankruptcies in 1596 and in 1607 under Phillip II and Phillip III Under Phillip III (1598-1621) decline becomes apparent
10	Outcome in Spain Attempts to centralize government are unsuccessful Thirty Years War Expensive military campaigns Total defeat at the Battle of Rocroi (1643) Internal Revolts/Civil War Dutch Independence formally recognized by the Peace of Westphalia (1648) Spanish Netherlands and outlying areas lost in Peace of the Pyrenees (1659)
11	Holy Roman Empire (Germany) State of the “Empire” 1517 Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses Impact of reformation 1529 Siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Turks The Hapsburgs.
12	Powerful Family Possessions
13	Absolutism Successful France Nobles and Protestantism Eventually all the Valois (catholic) heirs to the throne die - only the protestant, Henry the Duke of Bourbon could lay claim to the throne “Paris is worth a mass” Signs Edict of Nantes (1598).
14	Absolutism Successful Louis XIII (1610-1643) and Cardinal Richelieu raison d’état applied by Richelieu increases power of central authority usually at the cost of Protestant towns and nobles use in foreign policy decisions Thirty Years War and treaty of Westphalia.
15	Quotes of Richelieu “What is done for the state is done for God, who is the basis and foundation of it......Where the interests of the state are concerned, God absolves actions which, if privately committed, would be a crime.” — Cardinal Richelieu "If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him." — Cardinal Richelieu
16	The 30 Years War
17	Louis XIV (The Sun King)
18	Louis XIV (1661-1715) Centralizes all aspects of French life education, bureaucracy, economy Weakens the Aristocracy removes from prominent advisory positions distracts with expensive balls, fashions and fripperies Constant Wars - power checked by military alliances and expenses - results in “balance of power” How did it last?
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23	Russia Emerging from city states Increasingly centralized state Serfdom increases while decreasing elsewhere (royal bribes) Expanding east and southward.
24	The Tsars Ivan IV (the terrible) 1547-1584 Brings the Empire together forcefully. Peter the Great 1682-1725 Increasing central power Increase in serfdom Increases taxes Increases the size of the empire Control over the Russian orthodox church.
25	Eastern Europe c. 1570
26	Lands Added by Peter the Great