Absolute Monarchy and Political Changes in Europe

Absolute Monarchy

ruler has complete control over everything, even the church (ex: Spain and France)

Divine Right

the rulers authority came directly from God, that ruler was chosen by God

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor during Martin Luther's protestant reformation in England. Before his death, he divided the European empire between his son and his brother.

Philip II

son of Charles V, controls half of the European Empire his father left for him, attacked protestants and executed them. His rule ended with an assassination.

Huguenots

French protestants (1500-1600)

Henry IV

First Huguenots prince but remained a catholic country. Issued the edict of Nantes which put a religious tolerance to protestants. His rule ended when he was assassinated.

Edict of Nantes

gave religious tolerance to protestants

Cardinal Richelieu

was serving as chief minister of Louis VIII until he could begin his reign alone

Louis XIV

served as king of France from 1643-1715. Considered the symbol of absolute monarchy.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

served under King Louis XIV as controller general of finance

Versailles

royal French residence and seat of government

Levee

morning ritual which nobles would wait upon king Louis XIV

Balance of Power

distribution of military and economic power that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong

Mercenary

soldiers serving in a foreign army for pay

Depopulation

reduction of number of people in an area

Peace of Westphalia

series of treaties that ended the Thirty-year war

Maria Theresa

archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia

Prussia

area in eastern and central Europe which came under Polish and German rule in the Middle Ages

Frederick William I

second Prussian king who helped transform his country into a prosperous state.

Frederick II

son of Frederick William I. succeeded his father to serve as king of Prussia

Peter the Great

tsar of Russia, proclaimed emperor in 1721. One of Russia's greatest statesmen, organizers and reformers

Westernization

adoption of western ideas, technology, and culture

Autocratic

having unlimited power

St. Petersburg

a port city in northwestern Russia founded by Peter the Great (1703)

Catherine the Great

German born empress of Russia, led her country in becoming part of the political/cultural life of Europe

Partition

a division into pieces

James I

king of Scotland and later became king of England and Ireland. He deeply believed in the divine right of kings to rule over all their subjects without interference from anyone.

Dissenter

Protestant whose views and opinions differed from those of the Church of England

Puritan

members of an English Protestant group who wanted to "purify" the Church of England by making it more simple and more morally strict

Charles I

the second Stuart king of England, Scotland, and Wales. His belief in the divine right of kings brought him into constant conflict with Parliament.

Oliver Cromwell

English soldier and gentleman who led the forces against Charles I of England during the English Civil War.

English Bill of Rights

series of acts passed in 1689 by the English Parliament that limited the rights of the monarchy

Limited Monarchy

government in which a constitution or legislative body limits the monarch's powers

Constitutional Government

government whose power is defined and limited by law

Cabinet

parliamentary advisors to the king who originally met in a small room, or cabinet

Prime Minister

the chief executive of a parliamentary government

Oligarchy

government in which ruling power belongs to a few people

Natural law

laws that cannot be changed

Thomas Hobbes

advocated that only powerful government was capable of protecting the people

John Locke

believed that the people should have rights, people choose leader and have the right to overthrow the ruler

Social Contract

agreement which people give up their freedom to ruler

Natural Rights

rights given to all people at birth

Philosophe

French philosopher, desired reform during enlightenment

Montesquieu

advocated idea of separation of powers

Voltaire

advocated freedom of speech, religion, and political

Rousseau

revolutionized thoughts about politics, ethics and education

Laissez faire

no government interference when companies make money

Censorship

king stopping you from talking/writing about something

Enlightened despot

a form of government in which an absolute monarch uses his or her power to bring about political and social change