AP Euro Quiz #3

Causes that lead to development of absolutism

1. Secular system of law

2. Competition for power between states and social groups

3. Wars that happened in the early 17th centuries

Characteristics of absolutism

1. Noble class being controlled (peasants → serfs)(France and Versailles)

2. Large army →Prussia is obsessed with large army because their country is not contiguous

3. Taxes to pay for wars

4. Control of religion

Philip IV strengths

Strong alliance with the Catholic Church

Philip IV weaknesses

1. War drains treasury

2. No standing army

3. Population decline (disease, poor harvests, famine)

Elizabeth I Strengths

1. Inspired sense of nationalism

2. Religious unification

3. Desire for new markets fueled by exploration and colonization

4. Defeats Armada

Elizabeth I Weaknesses

1. Low funds (running out of land to sell, increase taxes)

2. Shares power with the Parliament

Frederick the Great Elector of Prussia Strengths

1. Loyal nobility who controlled peasant class

2. Highly centralize bureaucracy

3. Mobilizes all industry in country to support militarization

Frederick the Great Elector of Prussia Weaknesses

1. Territory is not contiguous

2. Vulnerable attack from Austria 

Louis XIV Strengths

1. Total control over nobility after defeating the Fronde

2. Large army based on meritocracy, not nobility

Louis XIV Weaknesses

1. Spending on war and women

2. Heavy taxation

3. Lack of domestication infrastructure

L’etat c’est moi

I am the state - meaning, he has total authority over all of France, there is no one above him (except God of course)

How did Louis XIV control his nobility?

Forced them to live at Versailles where he can surveil them, so they cannot rebel

Why did Louis XIV revoke the Edict of Nantes in 1685

To promote Catholicism and strengthen his absolute power

Significance of Peter the Great’s mission to Westernize Prussia

Made significant changes in Russia, such as

1. Education of nobles

2. Western style palaces

3. Guards had to shave their beards

How is Peter different from other absolutists?

He could be considered an “Enlightened Absolutist” as he believed it was his role to help people achieve the best living conditions possible

Changes Peter made to government

Table of Ranks (1722): required all male nobles to enter state service in the army, navy, or bureaucracy

Dutch government

Confederation of republics - saw absolutism as symbol of Catholic Spain

Dutch Republic Strengths

1. Rapid developing economy

2. Big population

3. Haven for religious dissidents (except Catholics)

Dutch Republic Weaknesses

1. Confederation of small republics surrounded by absolute regimes

2. Involved in series of wars with Spain, England, and France

3. Lack of domestic manufacturing and production

Characteristics of Dutch Art

1. Middle class

2. Rich tones because of trade

3. Everyday lives

4. Food

5. “Rich”

Causes of the Dutch War

Take over the Spanish Netherlands because Spain is weak and cannot defend its territory

Effects of the Dutch War

Dutch open up dikes and flood out the French troops

Wars of Spanish Succession Causes

King Charles II died without an heir but Spain wants to keep the empire intact. Charles left the entire grandson to Louis XIV. He was married to the infanta of Spain. He refused to cut his grandson out of French succession. Charles II dies and Philip of France is crowned emperor of Spain

Wars of Spanish Succession Effects

1. Louis XIV no longer has the will to fight

2. Treaty of Utrecht

Treaty of Utrecht (1714)

Reestablished the diplomatic peace that would maintain for most of the eighteenth century

Significance of Spanish Wars of Succession

Ends Louis XIV's quest for European domination

Sends France into financial trouble ("I loved war too much")

Remakes the map of Europe for the 18th century