Age of Absolutism Flashcards
abdicate
the renounce of a throne, high office, dignity, or function (ex: a monarch)
- Charles V abdicated and divided the Hapsburg Empire
absolute monarchy
system of government where the head of the state is a hereditary position and the King/Queen has almost complete power
Hapsburgs
- royal dynasty of Austria that ruled over a vast part of Central Europe while battling with the Turks over Hungary
- supported the Roman catholic Church during 30 Years War
- longest reigning family
Constitutionalism
philosophy that allows for a government authority to be constrained by a constitution and supported by the people
Charles V
ruled the Holy Roman Empire in Rome, the Netherlands, and Spain; part of the Hapsburg family
divine right
belief that ruler’s authority comes directly from god
Phillip II
King of Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Naples, and Sicily
- workaholic
- VERY Catholic
- believed in divine right
- ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
The Netherlands
- Dutch republic that defied the pattern if absolutism
- centralized control that dominated over other european nations during the 17th century
- Spain ruled the Netherlands when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V inherited the Spanish throne in 1516
- beginning of Hapsburg rule in Spain
Mary I (Bloody Mary)
England’s Catholic Queen who executed many Protestants
Elizabeth I
- “virgin” queen
- ruled for 50 years
- one of most successful monarchs in English History
- supported arts and exploration of the New World
- increased the treasury
- built up the military
- established the Church of England as the “main” region in England
Spanish Armada
a huge fleet of Spanish warships meant to end English plans
Edict of Nantes
document that granted religious freedoms to the Huguenots
The Fronde
French rebellion caused by Mazarin;s attempt to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy, caused Louis XIV to distrust the state and turn to absolutism
Henry IV of France
Protestant who converted to Catholicism to rule France
- issued Edict of Nantes and protected Huguenots
Huguenots
French Protestants influenced by John Calvin
intendents
government agents who collected taxes and administered justice
Louis XIV of France
- “Sun King”
- most powerful long lasting ruler in France
- 72 years of rule
- gained absolute power over nation
- lived in the Palace of Versailles
Cardinal Richelieu (France)
- became Cardinal in 1620, became chief advisor in 1624
- responsible for divine right monarchy
- eliminated Huguenots
- unified France
- careless with national finances
- dies within a month of Louis’ death
- coined the term “raison d’etat”
Richelieu’s goals
- Make King louis XIV supreme in Europe
- Make France supreme in Europe
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
- Catholics and Huguenots gather for a royal wedding on August 24, 1572
- mass slaying of huguenots (3,000 killed)
- in Paris
Versallies
- a palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris
- home to Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette
“L’etat, c’est moi”
“I am the state”
- said by Louis XIV, showing his absolute rule over France
“Paris is well worth a Mass”
the reason Henry IV gave when he converted to Catholicism; France was worth Henry becoming Catholic
Thirty Years War
between Protestants and Catholics in Holy Roman Empire
- eventually included other countries
- began with Defenestration of Prague
- VERY destructive
- France supported Protestants
Maria Theresa
- 1st and only woman to inherit Austrian Empire (Hapsburg)
- 16 kids (all daughters named Maria)
- married Francis 1
Frederick the Great
- Prussian
- Hohenzollern family
- “The Sparta of the North”
- made Prussia a strong military power
Ivan the Terrible
- first to claim title of Czar
- “good Ivan”
- “bad Ivan”
Peter the Great
- 1672-1682-1725
- obsessed with westernizing Russia
- traveled Europe to find Western ruling
- built St. petersburg
- father of Russian Navy
- established Russian Empire
Catherine the Great
- 1729- 1796
- empress of Russia who greatly increased the territory of the empire
- continued Peter’s rule
- father HATED her for being a woman
- extremely smart
- German wife of Peter III
What advantages and disadvantages are inherent in absolute monarchy?
Advantages:
- long reign
- quicker decisions
- consistency
Disadvantages:
- can become outdated
- no fresh ideas
- people have no say in matters
Why would people agree to being ruled this way? (absolute monarchy)
- quicker decisions and actions
- long reign/ get lots done
- consistency
What similarities are evident between the monarchs in Spain, France, Austria, Russia, and other countries?
- absolute monarchy
- monarchy
- Holy Roman Empire
- issues between Catholics and other religions
- strong militaries
- wealthiness
- expansion of territory
- women were not treated as well as men
Why did the power/wealth of Spain decline?
- less capable leaders
- wars
- farming/ commerce neglected
-heavily taxed middle class - expulsion of Jews/Muslims
- inflation
absolutism
political practice of centralized authority and absolute sovereignty in a monarch
monarchy
form of government ruled by a King or Queen
Spain is the most powerful country in Europe because…
- very wealthy (due to colonies of the new world)
- religious unity
- strong military (due to wealth)
- strong central government
What are the problems of ruling the Holy Roman Empire?
- geography and extreme size of Holy Roman Empire
- different ethnic groups
- religious differences
- Protestant reformation
- external pressures (Ottoman Empire was mostly Jews, Muslims, and Christians)
Who takes over after Charles V?
his brother, Ferdinand, takes over the Holy Roman Empire
inquisition
a questioning or examining that is often harsh or severe
Ottoman Empire
a Muslim empire based in Turkey that lasted from the 1300s to 1922
Why did Phillip II wage war against the Dutch?
- riots/ revolts
- Protestantism
- Inquisition
- high taxes
- autocratic rule
- ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
Mary Queen of Scots
Catholic relative to Protestant Queen Elizabeth 1 of England
- allegedly plotted with Spain’s Phillip II to overthrow Elizabeth and reassert Catholicism in England. As result, Elizabeth had her beheaded.
Why did the Spanish Armada invade England?
they had the support of the Dutch, sea dogs, pirating, murder/execution of Mary Queen of Scots
The Mughal Empire
Muslim state (1526-1857) exercising dominance over most of India in the 16th and 17th centuries
- ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
The Ming Empire
Empire in China before the Quing Empire
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
The Qing Empire
Empire in China AFTER the Ming Empire
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
nobility
a high ranking social class
Defenestration of Praque
Protestant nobleman tossed royal officials out of 70ft window
Good Ivan
- added land
- revised Russian laws
- kept standing army
- increased trade with Europe
Bad Ivan
after death of first wife
- remarried 7 times
- fought for over 20 years in Sweden, Denmark, and Poland- Lithuania
- killed boyars for death of mom and wife
- exiled many to Siberia
- personal army
- killed boyars at party (drowing, roasting, necks cut)
- accidentally killed own son
The Bourbons
French Family (all of the Louis’ family)
The Hohenzollems
- ruled in Prussia
- Frederick II- “The Sparta of the North”
