Studied by 2 people
what are the critical attributes of an absolute ruler?
divine right, consolidation of power, and no checks and balances
what does divine right mean?
chosen by God to rule
what is consolidation of power?
all of the powers of the state are consolidated under one person
explain checks and balances in relation to absolutism
the monarch makes all final decisions and no other party shares or limits the power of them
what were the broad causes of absolutism in Europe?
decline of feudalism
rise of cities and growth of kingdoms
growing middle class that wanted peace from monarchs
break down of church (reformation)
what were the immediate causes of absolutism in Europe?
unrest (religious and territorial)
government made big armies which let to higher taxes
attempt at central power by monarchs
Frederick William II - where, strengthen or weakened, and main achievements
where: Prussia
strengthened
increased exporting, mining, and agriculture which lead to a better economy
fair and lawful society and less bribery
more religious freedom (except Jews)
less torture
Catherine II - where, strengthened or weakened, and main achievements
where: Russia
strengthened
supported education
expanded borders
strengthened military and government
created 2nd warm water port for Russia
Peter I - where, strengthened or weakened, and main achievements
where: Russia
strengthened
created 1st warm water port for Russia
expanded borders
strengthened economy
created largest standing army in Europe
brought Russia on world stage
Philip II - where, strengthened or weakened, and main achievements
where: Spain
strengthened but mostly weakened
strengthened:
increased wealth
built up military
waged successful wars and expanded borders
weakened:
bankrupted by expensive wars
religiously intolerant against protestants
Louis XIV (14th) - where, strengthened or weakened, and main achievements
where: France
weakened
revoked edict of Nantes
unfair tax system
sets stage for French revolution
mass emigration of protestants
wasted money on wars and buildings
Who issued the Edict of Nantes?
Henry IV - became catholic to heal divisions in France
Explain the timing of Louis XIV's reign
longest reign of 72 years and 10 days
crowned at age 4 but the decisions were made by cardinal Mazarin
Mazarin died and Louis took full power at age 22
Who said "L'etat c'est moi" (I am the state)?
Louis XIV
What main events made Louis XIV an absolute monarch?
never called an estates general
centralized government and had nobles live in Versailles
Summarize the 3 estates
1st estate: roman catholic clergy
2nd estate: nobles
3rd estate: middle class and peasants - 97% of population and paid all of the taxes
What is mercantilism?
an economic system where the government regulates trade for its own benefit at the expense of its rivals.
Who was titled the sun king and why?
Louis XIV because he believed he was the center of France like how they thought the sun was at the center of the universe
What was France like during Louis XIV's reign?
there were many religious issues and the upper class had lots of power
What was labor like in Russia compared to western Europe?
Russia: serfs were property, they couldn’t leave their land, and they could be bought and sold
western Europe: serfs won freedom during renaissance/reformation and moved to cities
What is the main religion in Russia compared to western Europe?
Russia: orthodox Christian
western Europe: Catholics and protestants
What was the geography of Russia compared to western Europe?
Russia: isolated
western Europe: many trade and political connections
Ivan III the great
centralized government
abolished Mongol rule
Ivan IV the terrible (beginning)
first absolute ruler of Russia
Crowned at 3 but boyars did most of the work but fought among themselves
Ivan takes over at 16
Ivan IV (good period)
expanded borders
created code of laws
ruled justly
Ivan IV (bad period)
after his first wife died, he blamed his boyars and created a secret police to execute them and any other possible traitors
killed eldest son during a fight
summarize Ivan IV
tortured and executed thousands with his own hands
an entire city was killed because a few people planned an uprising
very brutal
what happened after Ivan IV died?
all heirs to the throne started mysteriously dying so russia picks a new ruling family (Romanovs) who were good rulers
how did peter I (the great) differ from the traditional thoughts of other russians?
most of russia was orthodox and saw western europe as sinners
peter was facinated by western europe and modern machinery and tried to westernize russia
what obstacles were in Peter I's way to weternize europe?
people wouldn't change
russian orthodox church
boyars
cost
What are Huguenots?
French Protestants
how did Peter I westernize Russia?
by force
took over Russian orthodox church
limited boyar power
hired Europeans to run army
standing army of 200,000
heavy taxes
what did Peter I institute
the potato
propaganda newspaper
required women to attend social gatherings
ordered nobles to dress like the west
added schools for the arts, science, and navigation
explain peter I's western city
st petersburg
started a 20 year war with Sweden to get land on the baltic sea for a warm water port
builds city on swamp land
25,000 - 100,000 died while working and in war
what is absolutism?
a system of government in which a ruler holds total power
when did the enlightenment happen? What was it?
mid 1600s-1700s
a European intellectual movement where ideas about God, reason, nature, and man were developed which led to revolutions around the world and the development of the US
what was Locke's central idea?
never called an estates general
centralized government and had nobles live in Versailles
Summarize the 3 estates
1st estate: roman catholic clergy
2nd estate: nobles
3rd estate: middle class and peasants - 97% of population and paid all of the taxes
what was Rousseau's central idea?
individual freedom and direct democracy where each person should get a vote on everything and the majority is the best for everyone
what was Montesquieu's central idea?
political liberty and checks and balances
what was Astell's central idea?
education and equality for women in society
what was Wollstonecraft's central idea?
women should receive as much education as men and should enter medicine and politics
what was Voltaire's central idea?
tolerance, reason, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion
What was the geography of Russia compared to western Europe?
laws exist to preserve social order, not to avenge crimes
no capital punishment or torture and a speedy trial
what was Diderot's central idea?
collecting all knowledge gives humans the power to change mens common way of thinking
editor of Diderot's encyclopedia and printed it on the printing press
What is mercantilism?
an economic system where the government regulates trade for its own benefit at the expense of its rivals.
Ivan IV (bad period)
after his first wife died, he blamed his boyars and created a secret police to execute them and any other possible traitors
killed eldest son during a fight
explain peter I's western city
st petersburg
started a 20 year war with Sweden to get land on the baltic sea for a warm water port
builds city on swamp land
25,000 - 100,000 died while working and in war
how did enlightenment ideas spread?
through books, art, architecture, music, newspapers, and salons where people gathered to discuss new concepts
what is an enlightened despot and which main ones did we learn about?
absolute rulers who used their power to bring out political and societal change
Frederick the great, Joseph II, and Catherine the great
what was Locke's central idea?
improved religious freedoms, decreased censorship, and improved education
eliminated torture but not serfdom
what did Joseph II do as an enlightened despot?
granted freedom of the press and supported freedom of religion
abolished serfdom
all reforms reversed after his death
what did Catherine the Great do as an enlightened despot?
by force
took over Russian orthodox church
limited boyar power
hired Europeans to run army
standing army of 200,000
heavy taxes
what did Peter I institute
the potato
propaganda newspaper
required women to attend social gatherings
ordered nobles to dress like the west
added schools for the arts, science, and navigation
Philip II - where, strengthened or weakened, and main achievements
Spain
both but mostly weakened
strengthened:
increased wealth
expanded borders
weakened:
bankrupted after expensive wars
religiously intolerant against protestants
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Flashcard (24)