unit 3 ^

absolutism

Absolutism is a political system where monarchs consolidate all state power under themselves to advance their state’s needs.

What factors contributed to the rise of absolutism?

Decline of the Catholic Church, rise of Protestantism, end of religious wars, growing merchant class, weakened nobles.

How did the Peace of Westphalia support absolutism?

It ended religious wars, allowing monarchs to centralize secular power without interference from the church.

What does “L’état, c’est moi” mean and represent?

It means “I am the state,” symbolizing Louis XIV’s complete control over France. Saw himself as the highest and only authority for France and the Fronde

What was the Fronde?

A rebellion of nobles against Cardinal Mazarin’s centralization policies during Louis XIV’s youth.

How did the Fronde influence Louis XIV’s rule?

It convinced him of the need for absolute power to prevent instability.

Who was Cardinal Mazarin and what did he do?

He was Louis XIV’s advisor who suppressed noble uprisings and centralized authority.

What was the Intendant System under Louis XIV?

A system where royal agents enforced policies and weakened local nobles’ authority.

Why did Louis XIV build the Palace of Versailles?

To control and monitor the nobility, ensuring loyalty through luxury and distraction.

What was the Edict of Nantes?

A law that granted religious freedom to Huguenots in France.

What happened when Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes?

Huguenots fled France, reducing the merchant class and aligning the state with Catholicism.

How did Louis XIV merge political and religious power?

By revoking religious tolerance and making himself head of the French Catholic Church.

Who was Jean-Baptiste Colbert?

Louis XIV’s finance minister who implemented mercantilist policies.

What was Colbert’s economic strategy?

Mercantilism—emphasizing exports, reducing imports, promoting domestic industries, and imposing tariffs.

What were the effects of Colbert’s policies?

Reduced debt, boosted industry, expanded colonies—but unsustainable due to Louis XIV’s wars.

Why did Peter the Great want to westernize Russia?

To modernize Russia and compete with advanced European powers.

What was the Table of Ranks?

A system allowing nobles to earn status through state service, reducing hereditary privilege.

How did Peter reform the Russian Orthodox Church?

He abolished the Patriarch and replaced it with the Holy Synod controlled by state officials.

What cultural reforms did Peter the Great enforce?

Western clothing, beard bans, beard tax, and enforced Western customs on nobles.

How did Peter fund his reforms?

By increasing taxes, causing resentment among nobles and peasants.

What was the long-term effect of Peter’s reforms?

Russia became more aligned with Western Europe and modernization continued under Catherine the Great.

Constitutionalism in England

A system of government where the ruler shares power with a Parliament and is limited by law.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that monarchs are God’s representatives on Earth; opposing the king was like opposing God.

James I

Believed in divine right; clashed with Parliament due to refusal to limit his power.

Manga Carta

Established Parliament

Charles I

Succeeded James I; believed in divine right, dismissed Parliament, and seized property which angered the House of commons—leading to civil war.

Economic Tensions

Charles avoided Parliament due to financial disagreements, leading to the Long Parliament

Triennial Act (1641)

Required the monarch to summon Parliament at least once every three years which created more limits on the monarchs powers

Puritans

Religious reformers who wanted to remove Catholic influences from the Church of England.

Religious Tension in England

Stemmed from monarchs resisting Puritan reforms and associating with Catholicism (e.g., Charles I marrying a Catholic).

English Civil War (1642–1651)

A conflict between royal forces and Parliament over governance and religion.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of Parliament’s army; later ruled as a military dictator under the title “Lord Protector.”

• kicked out parliament members who opposed him

Rump Parliament

Parliament after Cromwell purged opposition; tried and executed Charles I.

Protectorate

Republic established by Cromwell; functioned as a military dictatorship.

Puritan Rule under Cromwell

Strict moral codes: no drinking, dancing, or swearing; unpopular with the people.

• Took inspiration from John Calvin

Restoration (1660)

Return of monarchy with Charles II after Cromwell’s death and failure of the Protectorate.

Charles II

Schemed with France and struggled to co exist with Parliament

James II

Comes after Charles II. Appointed Catholics to positions of power; overthrown in the Glorious Revolution.

Glorious Revolution (1688)

Bloodless overthrow of James II; replaced by William and Mary, ending absolutism and divine right in England, strictly following constitutionalism

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Ensured Parliament’s superiority over monarchy; monarch couldn’t annul laws or levy taxes without Parliament.

Dutch Republic

Antwerp was a major trading city that helped the Dutch become the most prosperous state in Europe. Spain, under Philip II, tried to control this wealth by enacting restrictive policies to divert Dutch profits to the Spanish throne.

Spanish Rule in the Netherlands

Philip II of Spain tried to control Dutch wealth and suppress Protestantism.

Calvinism in the Netherlands

Dutch Protestants resisted Catholic Spanish rule and destroyed Catholic churches leading many to be killed and charged with treason

William of Orange

Protestant leader who expelled the Spanish and later became King of England and Head of state in the Dutch Republic

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Ended the Thirty and Eighty Years’ Wars; recognized Dutch independence, Ended the 80 years war between the Dutch and Spanish

Dutch Republic emerged as the wealthiest European commercial empire

Result of the Peace of Westphalia

Led trade in Atlantic world

Large foot print in the Indian Ocean trade

Dutch Government System

Oligarchy of wealthy merchants and landowners; no monarchy.

Dutch republic

Made up or Urban gentry + wealthy land owners which represented each province of the NetherlandS

• State General deciding questions of foreign and domestic policy

◦ Made up of Elite members of Society that typically passed policies serving their best interest

Balance of Power

Post-Westphalia shift from religious wars to conflicts over state power balance.

Partition of Poland

Division of Poland among Austria, Prussia, and Russia due to its weakness and lack of central authority.

Weaknesses of Poland

No bureaucracy, nobles defied the king, frequent wars, and surrounded by absolutist states.

Battle of Vienna (1683)

Austria, Habsburgs, Poland, and Holy Roman Empire united to stop Ottoman expansion into Europe; ended Ottoman advance.

Louis XIV's Wars

Series of wars aimed at expanding French territory and power, disrupting balance of power in Europe.

Dutch War

Louis XIV's attempt to gain land from Spanish Netherlands and weaken Habsburgs; ultimately unsuccessful.

War of Spanish Succession (1702–1713)

Fought to prevent unification of France and Spain under Louis XIV’s grandson, which would tip balance of power.

Treaty of Utrecht

Ended War of Spanish Succession; allowed Phillip V to rule Spain but banned union with France.

Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden

Modernized army with hierarchy and firearms; raised taxes and expanded bureaucracy to support military reforms.

Organized into ascending rank so the Hierarchy of authority was apparent

Military Innovations

Included firearms, mobile cannons, and improved fortifications; inspired other powers like France.

How did Adolphus fund this?

raise taxes and expand the Bureaucracy

How did the Swedish military developments influence other European powers and affect the balance of power?

The Swedish army’s innovations inspired other nations, especially Louis XIV’s France, to expand and professionalize their militaries. This military growth helped certain states gain dominance, tipping the balance of power in their favor.

Agricultural Revolution

Originated in Britain and the Netherlands; marked by productivity gains despite reduced labor. Led to movement to urban areas

Enclosure Movement

Privatized common lands, displacing poor farmers and sending them to cities for work.

Crop Rotation

Replaced three-field system; increased soil fertility and agricultural yield.

Seed Drill by Jethro Tull

Planted seeds in organized rows and covered them for efficiency.

Mechanical Hoe

Increased efficiency of weed removal, improving crop yields.

Cast Iron Plow

Made planting easier; included interchangeable parts for repair.

Columbian Exchange

Introduced new crops to Europe, increasing food supply and improving health.

Importance of Potatoes

Nutritious, easy to grow, and could feed a family for a year from half an acre.

Economic development

Labor and trade became increasingly free from government and guild restrictions, most notably in England. Guilds previously controlled wages and prices, benefiting elites. The rise of Britain’s wool industry led manufacturers to pay workers directly per garment, raising wages and boosting productivity.

Cottage Industry

System where artisans produced goods at home; foundation for later factory-based production.

Putting-Out System

Merchants gave raw materials to workers, who processed them into finished goods at home.

Factory System

Grew out of cottage industry; centralized production, increased efficiency and specialization.

Water Frame

Invention by Richard Arkwright; water-powered wheel used for textile production.

Financial Innovations

Rise of insurance, venture capital, and banking to support industrial investment.

Insurance for Entrepreneurs

Helped mitigate risk, encouraging more factory investment.

Specialty Banks and Venture Capital

Loaned money to entrepreneurs; enabled factory construction and industrial growth.

Venture capital

if you wanted to start a factory, banks gave you money to do it

Mercantilism

State-controlled economic system aiming for favorable balance of trade and wealth accumulation.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Louis XIV’s finance minister; promoted mercantilism and colonial expansion.

Colonial Role in Mercantilism

Supplied raw materials and bought processed goods; vital to parent country economies.

Slave Labor in Colonies

Replaced dying Indigenous populations; driven by European demand for colonial goods.

Triangular Trade

Trade route connecting Africa, the Americas, and Europe; based on enslaved labor and commodities like sugar and rum.

Consumer Culture in Europe

Result of global trade and cheap goods from enslaved labor; boosted demand for luxury items.

Tobacco Trade

Major industry driven by European demand; supported by colonial plantations and slave labor.