U3 AP Euro - Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Mannerism

An art style that means "style."

Mannerism: Bodies

Bodies tend to not be realistic and proportional.

Mannerism: Purpose

Meant to evoke an emotion or movement.

Mannerism and the Protestant Reformation

Mannerism was connected to the Protestant Reformation.

Baroque

An art style that implies strangeness, irregularity, and extravagance.

Baroque: Drama

The more dramatic, the better.

Baroque and the Catholic Church

Baroque was promoted by the Catholic Church.

Baroque: Colors

Colors were brighter than bright and darks were darker than dark.

Chiaroscuro

A Baroque technique involving strong contrasts of light and dark.

Baroque: Example

Palace of Versailles, Hall of Mirrors.

Baroque: Gold

Baroque uses lots of gold.

Absolutism

A political system when a monarch has absolute power, claiming authority from God.

Constitutionalism

A system where power is shared between the king and a representative party, such as Congress or Parliament.

Divine Right

Many monarchs claimed a divine right to rule, arguing that their power came from God.

Secular Rulers

Secular rulers filled the power vacuum over religion, taxation, law, and control.

16th and 17th Century Rulers

Rulers sought to centralize authority by creating bureaucracies, standing armies, and national taxes.

Secular Law

Secular law replaced Church courts.

Royal Decrees

Monarchs used royal decrees instead of Papal bulls.

Treaty of Westphalia

Introduced modern diplomacy.

Treaty of Westphalia: Diplomacy

Introduced permanent ambassadors and treaties among equals.

Louis XIV

The Sun King.

Louis XIII

Louis XIII joined Protestant Sweden in the Thirty Years' War.

Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu

Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu laid the foundations for absolutism.

Richelieu and the Nobility

Richelieu weakened the power of the nobility.

Intendant System

Richelieu divided France into districts, each overseen by a royal intendant appointed by the king.

Royal Intendants

Royal officials appointed by the king to oversee districts in France.

Intendants' Background

Intendants were often educated members of the middle class, not hereditary nobles.

Louis XIV

King of France from 1643–1715, known as the “Sun King.”

Why was Louis XIV called the “Sun King”?

He was the most important person in France and had played the role of the sun god in a play when he was younger.

When did Louis XIV become king?

He became king at age 5.

Who advised Louis XIV when he became king?

His mother and advisors advised him when he was young.

What happened during the Fronde?

Nobles and townspeople rebelled over taxes, and Louis XIV later worked to prevent similar uprisings.

What did Louis XIV do after the Fronde?

He ruled more absolutely and worked to prevent nobles from challenging his authority.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Louis XIV’s financial advisor who supported mercantilist policies and helped make France wealthy.

What did Jean-Baptiste Colbert advise Louis XIV to do?

He advised Louis XIV on economic and mercantilist policies.

What did Colbert help France become?

He helped make France very rich.

What was Versailles?

The palace that became the center of political life in France under Louis XIV.

Why did Louis XIV make Versailles the center of political life?

He used it to control and watch the nobles and prevent noble uprisings.

What happened to nobles at Versailles?

Nobles were forced to reside there, allowing Louis XIV to watch and control them.

Who did Louis XIV prefer to give positions to?

He preferred lesser/minor nobles rather than powerful hereditary nobles.

How did Louis XIV weaken powerful nobles?

He gave positions and titles to lesser nobles, making them dependent on him.

What were the “nobles of the sword”?

Hereditary nobles who had traditionally held noble positions and privileges.

What did Louis XIV believe about kingship?

He believed in the divine right of kings.

Divine right of kings

The belief that kings receive their authority from God.

Estates-General

Louis XIV never conferred with the Estates-General and did not convene it after 1614.

What did Louis XIV do with taxes?

He taxed his subjects to fund Versailles and foreign wars.

What happened to the Edict of Nantes under Louis XIV?

He revoked the Edict of Nantes, ending religious toleration in France.

What did revoking the Edict of Nantes require?

French Huguenots were required to become Catholic.

What happened to many Protestants after the Edict of Nantes was revoked?

Many Protestants left France.

Prussia

A Central European state where serfs were dominated by nobles and there were no real representative institutions.

Hohenzollern dynasty

The dynasty that ruled Prussia and was established by Frederick William, the “Great Elector.”

Frederick William, the Great Elector

Ruler of Prussia from 1640–1688 who created a strong military and welcomed minority refugees.

What did Frederick William do for Prussia’s military?

He created a strong military of about 30,000 men.

What was Frederick William’s policy toward minority refugees?

He welcomed minority refugees.

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia who pursued Westernization and modernization to strengthen Russia and its military.

What was Peter the Great’s main goal?

Westernization and modernization of Russia, especially to strengthen the military.

What did Peter the Great require boyars to do?

He required nobles (boyars) to cut their beards and wear Western-style clothing.

What was the “Beard Tax”?

A tax Peter the Great required nobles to pay if they wanted to keep their beards.

What did beards symbolize in Russia?

Beards were symbols of power and nobility.

What did Peter the Great change about noble appearance?

He required boyars to cut their beards and adopt Western-style clothing.

What were boyars?

Russian nobles who were affected by Peter the Great’s reforms.

What were intendants?

Intendants were often educated members of the middle class rather than hereditary nobles.