The Age of Absolutism Notes

Louis XIV of France ("The Sun King")

-Ruled 1643-1715
-Built Versailles as a symbol of his power and to control the nobility.
-"L'état, c'est moi" ("I am the state").
-Revoked the Edict of Nantes, ending religious tolerance for Huguenots.

Peter the Great of Russia

-Ruled 1682-1725

-Modernized ("westernized") Russia's military, government, and culture.

-Built the city of St. Petersburg as a "window to the West."

Catherine the Great of Russia

-Continued westernization.

-Expanded Russian territory.

-Supported some Enlightenment ideas but kept tight control over the people.

Philip II of Spain

-Defender of Catholicism; sent the Spanish Armada against England (1588, defeated).

-Spain's empire declined under his heavy spending on wars.

Frederick the Great of Prussia

-Strengthened the military and expanded Prussia's territory.

Spanish Armada (1588)

-Philip II's attempt to invade England; marked the decline of Spain's naval dominance.

Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)

-Religious war in Central Europe, ended with the Peace of Westphalia, which allowed rulers to choose their state's religion.

Versailles Palace

Symbol of absolutism and Louis XIV's control of nobility.

Rise of Nation-States

Countries began to centralize power and compete for colonies and influence.

Absolute power vs. Limited power

In contrast to absolutism, England developed a constitutional monarchy after the Glorious Revolution.

Religion & Power

Many absolute rulers used religion to legitimize their rule.

Impact of Absolutism

Stronger monarchies, but also costly wars, debt, that would later lead to revolutions.

Absolutism

System of government where the monarch holds total power.

Divine Right of Kings

Belief that monarchs' authority comes directly from God.

Centralization

Concentration/Focus of power in the hands of the monarch

Bureaucracy

Group of officials that carry out the monarch's decisions.

Mercantilism

Economic policy where colonies exist to benefit the mother country.

Monarch

A king or queen who rules a nation.

Autocrat

A ruler with absolute power.

Czar/Tsar

Title for Russian rulers, meaning "Caesar."

Versailles

Palace built by Louis XIV to show power and control the nobility.

Huguenots

French Protestants; lost protection when Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes.

Westernization

Adoption of Western European ideas, technology, and culture (especially in Russia under Peter the Great).

Boyars

Russian nobles, reduced in power by czars.

Parliament

Representative body in England that limited monarchs' power.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where a monarch's power is limited by laws and a constitution.

Glorious Revolution

Peaceful transfer of power in England (1688) that established a constitutional monarchy.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Limited the power of the monarchy and guaranteed rights to Parliament and citizens.

Standing Army

A permanent, professional army maintained even in peacetime

Balance of Power

Distribution of power among nations to prevent any one from dominating.

Dynasty

A family line of rulers (e.g., Habsburg, Bourbon, Romanov).

Armada

A large fleet of warships, especially Spain's unsuccessful attempt against England in 1588.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Treaty ending the Thirty Years' War; allowed rulers to choose their state's religion.

Key Monarchs

Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Philip II, Frederick the Great

Major Events

Spanish Armada, Thirty Years' War, Glorious Revolution, Versailles, Rise of Nation-States

Themes

Absolute vs. Limited Power, Religion & Power, Impact of Absolutism