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Sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule

by divine right – power from god

Age of Absolutism

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Themes

The During the 17c and 18c, Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia were able to establish or maintain a strong monarchy, standing army, efficient tax structures, large bureaucracy, and a more or less domesticated, divided or loyal nobility so that this period is known as the "Age of Absolutism."

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Themes

French culture and political power dominated Europe in the 18c.

England and France experienced very different political and social developments in the late 17c.

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Themes

One of the major reasons for the strong position of England from 1685-1763 lies in the supremacy of a parliament dominated by landowners and nobles of similar interests.  The 18c became known as the "Age of the Aristocracy".  Therefore, this supremacy of Parliament provided Britain with the kind of unity sought elsewhere through absolutism.

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Themes

This period saw the beginnings of two long-term conflicts--Britain and France over trade and overseas empire and Austria and Prussia over the leadership of Germany.

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France – Henry IV

Bourbon Dynasty to end War of 3 HenriesEdict of Nantes – religious tolerationCut privileges of Fr. nobility“Chicken in every pot” – well loved by citizens

Murdered by catholic fanatic

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Cardinal Richelieu

Primary goal to strengthen French monarchy eliminated military/political rights of Huguenots

used spies to uncover plots royal intendants to execute orders of gov increase taxes involved France in 30 Years War

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Cardinal Mazarin - Louis XIV

Put down the Fronde - revolts by nobility

Died when Louis XIV 23

Voltaire - period of 1661-1715 “Age of Louis XIV”

Sun King - source of light for all his people

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Administration & Gov

Large bureaucracy made up of lesser nobles and middle class

distracted the upper nobility with life at Versailles

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Religious Policy

“one King, one law, one faith”Edict of Fontainbleau - revoked Nantes

minority groups could lead to a divided nationSome 200,000 Huguenots flee France

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Financial Issues

Versailles, maintaing court, wars cost $

Jean-Baptiste Colbert - controller of finances mercantilism - regulate economy tax exemptions for industries built roads/canals to move goods raised tariffs on imports

Problem - more Colbert brought in, the more Louis spent

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Wars of Louis XIV

1667 invades Spanish Neth. and Franche-Comte Triple Alliance stops (Dutch, English,Swedes)

1672 invades United Provinces Coalition of Brandenburg, Spain & HRE stop Louis France received Franche-Comte from Spain

War of League of Augsburg - east against HRE Treaty of Ryswick Louis keeps Strasbourg and part of Alsace

War of Spanish Succession - Spanish throne left to grandson of Louis XIV balance of power rest of Europe moves against France/Spain

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Wars continued

Peace of Utrecht 1713 & Rastatt 1714 Philip V Spanish ruler but Spain and France to be separate

Spanish Neth, Milan & Naples given to Austria Brandenburg-Prussia gained additional territories

England gained Fr territories in New World

France left surrounded by enemies and bankrupt

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How absolute was Louis?

Adv: made France more powerful w/ improved military centralized Fr gov tamed the Fr aristocracy

Dis Adv: taxed the peasants created huge debt court at Versailles too removed from lives and problems of common people

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Spain in Decline

Philip II - Left Spain BankruptPhilip III - weak rule allowed duke of Lerma to run affairs

Philip IV (1621-1665) tried to centralize power and cut influence of Catholic Church

aristocracy too strong 30 Yrs War defeat @ Rocroi decline of silver from New World 1620s-40s killed economy

internal struggles - no real middle class

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German States

Peace of Westphalia - Germany independent states

By 17th c - 2 emerging empires Brandenburg-Prussia Austria

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Brandenburg Prussia

1415 Hohenzollerns begin rule in Brandenburg

1600s acquire land in west Germany and East Prussia

Frederick William, the Great Elector(1640-1688) General War Commissariat (military run state) members of Commissariat - Prussian aristocrats, Junkers

Frederick makes deal with nobility free hand in running gov for unlimited power over peasants

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Brandenburg Prussia continued

Frederick and Economy - mercantilist favored nobility at expense of middle class

Frederick’s son, Frederick III helps HRE in War of Spanish Succession - in return granted title of King of Prussia - King Frederick I

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Austria

Hapsburg power over Germany declined after 30 Years War

Turned attention to traditional Hapsburg lands of SE Europe

16th c wars of religion had added Bohemia and parts of NW Hungary to Haps land

Leopold I (1658-1705) crushes Ottoman advance at Vienna 1687

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Austria continued

Treaty of Karlowitz added Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, Slovenia to Austrian Empire

War of Spanish Succession - Austria gains Spanish Neth and Spanish influence in Italy: Milan, Mantua, Sardinia, Naples

Never became centralized absolutist state bc of various national groups but strong bond in support of House of Hapsburg

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Russia

Ivan IV the Terrible 1533-1584 1st to use title tsar

Used cruelty and fear to crush boyars – nobility

Expanded west to include nearly a billion acres

Son too weak to rule – end of dynasty

Time of Troubles – famine and civil unrest

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Russia continued

1613 Zemsky Sober chose Michael Romanov Dynasty last until 1917

Peter the Great 1689-1725 Strong military (conscription of 25yr service) Table of Ranks – based on merit Military consumed 4/5 of revenue Mercantilist policies but had to resort to heavy taxation

Tried to “westernize” – women benefitedWindow to the West – Great Northern War against Sweden to gain port – St Petersburg capital - 1917

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England

England moves from Divine Right to Constitutional Monarchy Response to Reformation – religious reasons Rising middle class – gentry w/ “Protestant work ethic”

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James I

E-Liz cousin (son of Mary, queen of Scots) – STUART

Divine Right – not real friendly w/ Parliament

Refused Puritan request to “purify” church of bishops

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Charles I

Goes back on Petition of Right 1628Kicks out Parliament 11yrs, taxes through ship money

Married Louis 13 Catholic sis – Henrietta Maria

LAST STRAW – tried to force Anglican practices on Scotland – Scotland mostly Presbyterian (Calvin brand)

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English Civil War

Has to call Parliament - needs army to put down Scottish revolt

Parliament won’t deal unless reform goes down in Anglican Church Charles starts arresting radical parliamentarians (roundheads)

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

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Oliver Cromwell & Protectorate

Puritans forces of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell capture Charles I 1646

Parliament Splits Presbyterians (cavaliers) Radical independents (roundheads)

Charles looks for help from Scotland, captured again 1648

Rump Parliament charges Charles w/ treason – off with his head

Cromwell – military rule til death 1658

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Restoration of Charles II

Cavalier Parliament reestablishes Anglican Church – laws forcing Catholics and Puritans

Charles tried to remain neutral as did not want his dad’s fate but sympathized w/ Catholics

Parliament attempts to pass bill to block his bro James II (catholic) from throne – Whigs & Tories

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Glorious Revolution

Parliament was going to wait out James II until had a Catholic boy

Nobles invite William of Orange, husband of James’ daughter Mary

Bill of Rights 1689

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European Culture

Many phases after RenaissanceReflected the tension and emotion of the periodReligious Wars, Counter Reformation, Absolutism

Music - BachArt - Mannerism - BaroqueArchitecture - big palaces

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Mannerism - Italy 1520s/30s

Attempted to break down High Ren. principles of balance and harmony

Elongated figures - sense of suffering, strong emotion filled w/ anxiety and confusion

El Greco

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Baroque - End of 16th-17th c.

Emphasized emotion and powerobjects in motiondiagonal movement

Contrasts of light - shadow

Italy/Spain - Supported Catholic Reformation attract viewers back to the Church

France - mix of religion and absolute powerProtestant Europe - secularized, genre focused reflective of emerging middle class patronizing art

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Night Watch - Rembrandt

Men getting their rifles together Light/shadow, in motion Street in Amsterdam

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Ecstasy of St. Theresa - Bernini

Vision of Spanish mystic an angel pierced heart of St. T - transporting her to a state of religious ecstasy

Raw emotion, light/shadow Religious focus

Attract viewers in

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Las Meninas - Valazquez

Maids of honor that serve the princess

King Philip and queen reflection in mirror on back wall Power, absolutism

People in motion, not portrait Light/Shadow

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Raising of the Cross - Rubens

Religious in subject matter - Counter Reformation Emotional - draw viewer in

Light/Shadow Diagonal movement

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Entombment - Caravaggio

Jesus being taken from the cross - emotional Counter Reformation

Diagonal movement Light/Shadow

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Syndics of the Cloth Guild - Rembrandt

Group of Protestant merchants - secular theme, genre

Rise of middle class Light/shadow Dutch Masters Cigars

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Judith Slaying Holofernes - Gentileschi

Biblical story of Judith saving Israelites cutting off head of Holo - very graphic, emotional

Woman artist, woman hero - role of women stepping out in society more

Movement Light/shadow

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Architecture29

Versailles Schonbrunn

Stockholm

“builds his versailles, has his mistresses,

and maintains his army” - Fred Great