Absolutism

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Absolutism
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Absolutism

• 17th and 18th centuries-absolute rule becomes a
  trend
• System in which the monarch commands the complete
  loyalty of all subjects
• Sovereignty consists in giving laws to the
  people without their consent. Jean Bodin
• The strength of absolutism rests on divine right
• The king is and should be the final source of
  legitimate authority
• 2 major features limiting the power of the
  nobility and limiting social mobility

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Louis XIV

• France still feeling the negative effects of
  religious wars of 16th century
• Ruled from 1643-1715 (became king at five, gained
  real power at 23)
• Known as the Sun King
• I am the state
• Emphasized strong monarchy because of fear of
  disorder without it

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• Moved court and government to Versailles
• Symbol of wealth, power, and glory
• Nullified the independent powers of the nobility
  by forcing them to come to Versailles
• Took over Nobles land
• Nobles reduced to a fringe group with few real
  powers and responsibilities, but tax exempt in
  exchange
• Poor (3rd estate) carry most of the tax burden
• Chose top advisors from the middle-class
• Served as the eyes and ears of the monarch
• Built the best-trained, most reliable bureaucracy
  available
• 1685- Edict of Nantes revoked, Huguenots leave in
  mass numbers due to religious persecution

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Peter the Great

• Ruled from 1682-1724
• Period before Peter known as Time of Troubles
• Maintained serfdom (until 1861)
• Absolutism lasts in Russia until 1917
• First Russian ruler to set foot outside the
  country
• Wanted to bring Russia into the mainstream of
  European civilization
• Defeated the Swedes and Poles and established St.
  Petersburg
• Russias window to the west

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• Brought thousands of foreign specialists
• Nobility used to govern country, to act as eyes
  and ears in exchange for privileges (land and tax
  breaks)
• Modernized military, built navy
• Used military power against foreign enemies and
  peasant rebels Jewish Pograms
• Brought the Eastern Orthodox Church under his
  direct authority, using the clergy as government
  agents

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Tokugawa Ieyasu

• Ruled from 1603-1616
• Completes unification of Japan
• Focuses exclusively on internal affairs by
  beating down any rivals
• Established headquarters at Edo (modern Tokyo)
• Emperor official head, shogun had the real power

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• Took control of daimyo lands and reassigned
• Set up a system (sankin-kotai) where daimyos
  (lords) had to travel to Edo every other year to
  pay a full year of service
• Kept the daimyos weak
• Peasant class actually respected, but disarmed to
  control revolution and class movement
• Christianity in Japan since 1543
• Already outlawed before Tokugawa, but took extra
  measures to persecute
• Some Christians go underground but the majority
  forced to give up their religion