The Age of Absolutism

How did the Glorious Revolution limit royal power in England?

- Before being crowned, William and Mary had to accept several acts of Parliament, known as the English Bill of Rights. - It required the monarch to summon Parliament regularly. - It barred any Roman Catholic from the throne. - Parliament had more power than the monarchy - English rulers had to govern in partnership with Parliament, which was quite radical at the time. - During the next century, Britain evolved a constitutional government in which the government's power is limited by law.

What events led to the start of the Thirty Years War?

- By the seventeenth century, the Holy Roman Empire was a loose patchwork of separate states. - In theory, these states were ruled by the Holy Roman emperor. - But in reality, the emperor, who was chosen by electors, had little power. - The lack of a central authority led to the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War. - The Thirty Years' War began in 1618 when king Ferdinand tried to suppress Protestants in Bohemia. - Protestant nobles threw two royal Catholic officials out of a window. This became known as the Defenestration of Prague, and sparked a revolt. - As both sides sought allies, the war widened into a general European war. - A religious conflict changed into a political war for control of Europe. Catholic and Protestant rulers shifted sides to suit their own interests.

Fredrick the Great

- Frederick trained his son Frederick II in the art of war. - When the prince became king in 1740, he seized Silesia from Austria, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession. - He forced Europe to see Prussia as a great power and became known as Frederick the Great.

What reforms did Peter the Great carry out?

- He adopted mercantilist policies to pay for his reforms. - Peter's reforms were both social and economic. - He imported technology, improved schools, improved canals, and developed new industries.

Explain what the statement, "I am the State," meant reguarding the French monarchy.

- Louis XIV never called a meeting of the Estates-General, the council made up of representatives of all the social classes, during his reign. - During this time, Louis appointed middle-class intendants to carry out his policies and built the French army into the strongest force in Europe.

St. Petersburg

capital city and major port that Peter the Great established in 1703

Describe Peter the Great's attempts to westernize Russia. In what ways did he fail/succeed?

- Peter brought back experts from Western Europe to help his policy of westernization. To force the change, he was very autocratic, ruling with unlimited authority. - He put the Russian Orthodox Church under his control. - He made the boyars serve the state, shave their traditional beards, and switch to Western-style dress. - In return, he strengthened serfdom. - Peter was not afraid to use force to reach his goal.If anyone revolted, he had them killed. - He adopted mercantilist policies to pay for his reforms. Peter's reforms were both social and economic. - He imported technology, improved schools, improved canals, and developed new industries. - Peter also sought to expand Russia's borders so that it could have a warm-water port. To this end, he built the largest army in Europe as well as a world-class navy. Peter was not able to push through the Ottoman Empire to get his warm-water port. - He defeated Sweden in the war in 1709 and gained territory along the Baltic Sea. - Positives: -- Ended Russia's isolation -- Expanded Russia's territory and gained ports on the Baltic Sea -- Built a big army - Negatives: -- Reforms died with him -- Used terror to enforce his will -- Policies led to the growth of serfdom

Catherine the Great

- Russian empress as of 1762 who embraced Western ideas and ruled as an absolute monarch - Catherine was a German princess who wed the heir to the Russian throne in 1745. - In 1762, a group of army officers deposed her mentally unstable husband. With their support, Catherine took the throne as empress of Russia. - Catherine proved an effective and able absolute monarch. - She embraced Western ideas. - She reorganized government and codified laws. - She opened state-sponsored schools for children. - She could also be ruthless. - Peasants revolted against the harsh conditions of serfdom. - Catherine repressed the rebellion and even more peasants were forced into serfdom.

What caused Spain's economy to decline beginning in the 1600's?

- The defeat of the Spanish armada marked the beginning of the end of Spain's glory. - Philip's successors did not rule as well as he did. - Spain also suffered from economic problems, such as costly foreign wars and high taxes. - A reliance on treasure from the Americas led Spain to neglect farming and commerce. - The expulsion of Muslims and Jews deprived Spain of many skilled artisans and merchants. - In the 1600s and 1700s, other European fleets arose and surpassed Spain's power.

Compare the relationship of Parliament with the Tudors and the Stuarts. Why were the relationships different?

- Tudor Monarchs Henry VIII and Elizabeth I Worked with Parliament to Rule England. Both sought approval from Parliament, even as they worked to control it. As a result, Parliament became accustomed to being consulted. - Harmony between the monarchy and Parliament ended with the Stuarts. Elizabeth died childless. The throne went to James Stuart, king of Scotland. James I clashed with Parliament. Though he promised to rule by English custom, he tried to assert divine right. James was Finally Forced to Call Parliament when He Needed Money. However, when Parliament wanted to discuss foreign policy before voting funds, he dissolved Parliament and collected taxes on his own.

balance of power

- a distribution of military and economic power among nations to prevent any one country from becoming too strong - Louis XIV fought costly wars to expand French borders, but was checked by rival rulers hoping to maintain the balance of power.

El Greco

- a famous painter during Spain's golden age - painted beautiful works of religious imagery and vivid portraits of Spanish noble.

Edict of Nantes

- a proclamation issued by Henry IV granting the Huguenots religious toleration and other freedoms - Henry issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 to protect the Protestants by granting the Huguenots religious toleration.

Maria Theresa

- did not succeed in throwing Prussia out of Austria, won support of people, eased burden on the peasents, reformed tax collection - Hapsburg emperor Charles VI died in 1740 and left the throne to his daughter, Maria Theresa, who immediately had to fight a new war.

Habeas Corpus

- part of the Petition of Rights - when arrested, one must have been charged with a crime - English Bill of Rights restated the right of trial by jury and affirmed the principle of habeas corpus.

Miguel De Cervantes

- the most important writer of Spain's golden age, author of Don Quixote - completed Don Quixote, considered Europe's first modern novel. It told the comic adventures of a landowner who imagines himself to be a medieval knight.

Hapsburg

Central European empire that in the 1500s included the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands

Cavaliers

On one side of the English Civil War were supporters of Charles I, called Cavaliers. They were wealthy nobles.

Peter the Great

a Russian tsar who took control of government in 1689 and used his power to modernize Russia

levellers

a group under Cromwell who wanted the poor to have more say in the government

limited monarchy

a monarchy that rules in partnership with Parliament or another governing body

intendants

a royal official who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out the king's policies in the provinces

absolute monarch

a ruler with complete authority over the government and the lives of the people

Versailles

royal French residence and seat of government established by King Louis XIV

divine right

the belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from God

Petition of Rights

the king can't just raise or collect taxes on his own

How did resources from the Spanish colonies in the Americas contribute to the decline of spain?

the recources of the spanish colonies in America xontributed to the decline of spain because it gave spain a flourish of silver and gold. with these riches, people became lazy and did not want to work to make money. The spanish people started working less therefore making spain lose power.

What were two symbols of the reign of Louis XIV and what was their signifigance?

the sun (symbol of his total power; the world revolving around him) and the palace at versailles (symbol of power and wealth)

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

when 3,000 huguenots were killed by the catholic majority. this symbolized a breakdown of order in france.