Absolutism Flashcards
What are the two pathways of State Formation
Absolutism and Consitutionalism
How did monarchial power change during the 17th century?
From Feudalism to Capitalism
What are the five features of absolutism?
- Consolidation of Power
- Monarch’s identity is state identity
- Decrease of noble influence
- Professional standing armies
- Bureaucracy
What was King Louis XIV nickname?
The Sun King
Why do kings have two bodies?
One for mortal and one for sacred/divinity
What was the name of the man who acted in Louis’ heed before he became of age?
The Reagent
What was La Fronde
The noble rebellion 1648-1653 before King Louis XIV was in power
Why did the ordinary people support La Fronde?
Mazarin taxed them in the 30 years war they fought in
What does Louis never forget?
The nobles who threatened his soveriegnty
What was Louis’ primary mission?
Control the nobles
Why did Louis coin the Fleur-de-lys?
To challenge the power of the pope as a divine being
What did the Fleur-de-lys symbolize?
Allegiance to the king; not the nobility
Why did Louis choose a symbol instead of a motto?
Peasants can’t read
What did Versailles symbolize?
Wealth and power of the state, especially over the nobility
What is the name of the grand entrance to Versailles?
Hall of Mirrors
What was Louis’ vision of France?
Grand, fertile, well organized, divine
Why did Louis create the Courtiers?
A mechanism to organize and build power
What is the Estates General?
The assembly of nobles who make political decisions
Why are the nobles of the Estates General angry with Louis?
He never calls a session since he only “had” to for raising taxes
How did Louis treat the nobles?
He loved forcing them into his court for enagement, pitting them against each other, and insulting/humiliating them
What is Patronage?
Paying homage to the king through humiliating acts
What are Incentives and Indendants?
Representatives sent to the provinces to challenge the noble authority, maintain order, and enforce the king’s laws
How were Intendants appointed?
Favors, not merit
What was the message Louis wanted to send with the intendants?
The King is Everywhere
What was the issue with the Indendants
They enforced laws differently and unevenly across the provinces
What was Louis’ perspective on religion in his regime?
He favored Catholics because it established a church hierarchy he could control.
How did Louis extend Catholic control?
Repealed the Edict of Nantes in 1685
What was the effect of repealing the Edict of Nantes?
Eliminated protestant freedom: no public acts, churchs, schools… exile for violators
What was Louis’ view on Bureaucracy?
He viewed it as an annoyance; he wanted no checks on his power
What was Louis’ view on armed conflict?
He wanted to expand France
How did Louis view war on his economy?
Constant war means constant money from increased taxes
How were absolute France and Russia similar?
Unlimited power, fighting nobles, central bureaucracy, military might
How were absolute France and Russia different?
Russia was much bigger than France, Russia had many cultures, languages, and Religions
How was Louis different from Peter the Great?
Peter was not ostentacious like Louis
Who preceeded Peter the Great?
Azar Alexi
What was Alexi’s main contribution to Russia?
Taxes and administrative structure
What was the congregation of noble delegates known as in Alexi’s Russia?
Assembly of the Land
What was the New Law Code?
Strict social and political hierarchy established by Alexi
What did the Law Code do?
Assigned everyone to a social class based on their ocupation and the needs of the state
What was the name of the slaves and peasants social class?
Serf Class
How did Alexi check the noble power?
Required military service and pledges to serve the Tsar
What was Peter the Great’s main goal for Russia?
To westernize it
How was Peter the Great different from Alexi and Louis?
He befriends the nobles and encourages court alliances
How did Peter the Great respond to rumors about his son’s plot?
He was arrested and executed
How did Peter the Great try to establish western culture?
Western dress, freshly shaved, tobacco
What is St. Petersburg?
Much like Versailles but for Russia
What direaction did St. Petersburg face? Why?
West; Faces Russia’s future
What was the Code of 1649?
Intricate system for organizing nobles and political power in Russia
What are the three branches of the Code of 1649?
Military, Judiciary, and Civil
Who kept Russia running under Peter the Great’s reign?
Educated Bureaucrats
What did Peter the Great value for his people?
Education
How did Peter the Great advance education?
Noble boys attend until 15, Academy of Sciences, and Universities for state function
How did Peter the Great pay for his education advancements?
poll taxes per capita on the serfs and taxes on luxury goods for the nobles
What economic system did Peter the Great prefer?
Mercantlism
How did Peter the Great implement Mercantilism?
200 new state manufacturers, transportation infrastructure, and tarrifs on foreign goods
