unit 3

What is absolutism in European history?

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.

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.

Charles I

Succeeded James I; believed in divine right, dismissed Parliament, and seized property—leading to civil war.

Triennial Act (1641)

Required the monarch to summon Parliament at least once every three years.

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.”

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.

Restoration (1660)

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

James 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 in England.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

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

Dutch Republic

A prosperous, independent state ruled by an oligarchy rather than a monarch.

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.

William of Orange

Protestant leader who expelled the Spanish and later became King of England.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Ended the Thirty and Eighty Years’ Wars; recognized Dutch independence.

Dutch Government System

Oligarchy of wealthy merchants and landowners; no monarchy.

States General

Assembly that handled Dutch domestic and foreign policy, dominated by elites.

Dutch Commercial Success

Became leading commercial power in Europe, dominating Atlantic and Indian Ocean trade.

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.