Absolutism

1
Absolutism
2
Spain and the Hapsburgs

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V tried to unify his
  empire of Spain, the Netherlands, Germany,
  Austria, Switzerland, and Italy

3
Charles V

• He was prevented from doing this because he
  constantly had to fight off the French king
  Francis I, and Ottoman Turk invasions

4
Dividing His Empire

• Tired of trying to rule so much land, he joined a
  monastery and divided his empire between his
  brother Ferdinand (Holy Roman Empire) and his son
  Philip (Spain)

5
An Imposing Monarch

• Philip IIs first goal was to consolidate and
  secure Spain, the Netherlands, and possessions in
  Italy and the New World

6
Catholicism

• He also strictly enforced Catholicism with an
  aggressive use of the Spanish Inquisition

7
Spains Downfall

• Wanted to establish strong monarchial authority
• This becomes his downfall
• He became the center of the system by supervising
  all work
• Failed to distinguish between important and
  trivial matters

8
Revolt of the Netherlands

• The Netherlands (modern Netherlands, Belgium and
  Luxembourg) had 17 provinces
• Residents of the Netherlands resented Philip when
  they realized their taxes went to pay for Spanish
  interests
• Riots against the Inquisition started a war

9
The Dutch Republic

• 1648 a truce recognized the independence of the
  northern provinces which would later be known as
  the Dutch Republic
• The southern provinces, which were mostly
  Catholic stayed part of the Spanish Empire

10
The Armada Sails

• Queen Elizabeth of England encouraged pirates to
  raid Spanish ships
• Philip prepared a huge armada to carry out a
  Spanish invasion of England
• The Armada proved to be a disaster, being
  battered by the English and then the weather on
  their return trip

11
End of the Spanish Empire

• This is beginning of the end of the Spanish
  Empire
• Inflation, taxation, expulsion of religions and
  poor military strength all lead to this

12
Mannerism

• El Greco painted elongated and contorted
  figures against a background of grays creating
  intense emotions

13
Miguel de Cervantes

• Don Quixote satire of medieval chivalry
• He wears rusted armor
• Rides a mule
• Attacks windmills
• Attacks sheep

14
French Religious Wars

• The Valois Dynasty was weak in France and both
  the Catholic Guise family and the Huguenots
  Bourbon family hoped to gain power
• Huguenots (French Protestants)
• Were persecuted by the Catholics

15
St. Bartholomews Day Massacre 1572

• Henry of Navarre (Huguenot), was to marry the
  princess
• Huguenot political leaders came to Paris to see
  the wedding
• The Guise family persuaded the king to eliminate
  the Huguenot leaders all at once
• A wave of violence gripped Paris for three days
  killing 3,000 Huguenots

16
Edict of Nantes

• After three wars Henry of Navarre became king
  Henry IV and converted to Catholicism to secure
  peace in France
• Edict of Nantes Guaranteed Huguenots the right
  to worship and have fortified towns

17
Cardinal Richelieu

• After Henry IV was assassinated, 9 year old Louis
  XIII became king appointed Cardinal Richelieu
  chief minister
• Richelieu ended noble power and persecuted
  Huguenots
• He made nobles loyal to the king by giving them
  high positions in the kings court or army

18
From Boy King to Sun King

• Louis XIV believed he was a divine ruler from god
  absolute monarch
• Letat, cest moi, Sun King center of the
  state

19
Business of government

• He attended to matters of state himself
• Appointed intendants to collect taxes, recruit
  soldiers and carry out his policies throughout
  the country
• Louis paid, fed, trained and supplied his army
  making it the strongest in Europe

20
Colbert and the French Economy

• Jean Colbert chief finance minister, made
  France prosperous by securing lots of money for
  many years

21
The Splendor of Versailles

• Nobles left at their estates were a threat to the
  kings power so Louis XIV brought them to
  Versailles
• He made them courtiers for privileges to keep
  them busy

22
Louis XIVs Legacy

• Louis XIV ruled France longer than any other
  monarch (72 years)
• He spent all of Frances money on wars, hurting
  the economy
• His persecution of Huguenots made many workers to
  leave France