Absolute Monarchs

Age of Absolutism

Content Objective

By the end of class I will be able to:

• Identify the characteristics of an absolute monarchy.

Poll

Do you think Carl actually had the power to do whatever he wanted?

• Yes

• No

Age of Absolutism

• The period around the 17th and 18th centuries when Europe was ruled by very powerful monarchs.

• Absolute monarchs were rulers who held all the power in a country. With no checks or balances from any other part of the nation or government.

• Monarchs had absolute control. Therefore, the Age of Absolutism.

Multiple Choice

Absolute monarchs relied on ___________ to justify their rule.

• Mercantilism

• Divine Right

• Social Contract

• Separation of Powers

Multiple Select

Identify characteristics of an absolute ruler.

• rulers who held all the power in a country

• ruled with no checks or balances from any other part of the nation or government.

• ruled by divine right- believed power came from God

• rulers that established constitutional monarchies

• rulers that respected the people's rights

Absolute Rulers

• Use armies to control and expand kingdom territories.

• Religious authority- decides on religion in region. Controls religious authority/church.

• Makes the Laws and creates their own parliament.

• Limits the power and wealth of nobles and commoners.

• Creates taxes and decides executions.

Comparing Monarchies

*A Constitutional monarchy = LIMITED government meaning there are LIMITS to what the king can do --> citizens have protected rights

* An Absolute monarchy = UNLIMITED government meaning there are NO LIMITS on the king's power --> relied on DIVINE RIGHT to rule

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a common characteristic of Absolute Monarchs?

• They provide religious freedom to all citizens

• They are elected into office for limited terms

• Their power is shared between other branches of government

• Creates taxes and decides executions

Absolutism in Russia

• Czars (“caesar” or “king”) expanded Russia’s borders, increased their power over the nobles, and created an absolute monarchy 

  
  

• By the time Peter the Great became czar in 1682,

  Russia was a large empire but was not as advanced as Western European nations

• (Mostly Agricultural)

Peter the Great

• Czar Peter the Great wanted to modernize and “Westernize” Russia to catch up with Europe

• In disguise, Peter toured Europe to learn new ways to modernize Russia

• While in Europe, Peter learned new ideas about shipbuilding, manufacturing, government organization, city planning, music, and fashion

  
  

The Legacy of Peter

• When he returned

  from Europe, Peter ruled with absolute authority and imposed new reforms to Westernize/Modernize Russia:

• Adopted a European calendar, adopted European fashions by banning beards for men and veils for women, modernized the army and navy, made himself head of

  the Orthodox Church

Multiple Choice

Why did Peter the Great set out on his great voyage around Europe?

• To reorganize the government

• To join the Crusades

• To learn new ways to westernize/ modernize Russia

• To take down slave revolts

Absolutism in France

• By the time Louis XIV (14th)

  came to power, France was an absolute monarchy

• Louis XIV ruled France

  for 72 years and became

  the classic example of

  an absolute monarch

Louis XIV

• Louis XIV believed that he WAS the government, (“L’etat c’est moi”):  “I AM THE STATE”

• He excluded nobles from government decisions and hired bureaucrats to collect taxes and enforce laws

  
  

• Louis XIV called himself the “Sun King” because

  he felt that French power emanated from him (like rays of the Sun)

• He used wealth and art to glorify himself, including constructing a massive palace called Versailles

Open Ended

In a few words, explain what this quote means in reference to an absolute monarchy?

"I am the state."-Louis XIV

The Legacy of Louis XIV

• His economic advisors used overseas colonies 

  and mercantilism to generate new wealth

• He encouraged manufacturing to make France self-sufficient

• With this wealth, Louis built a powerful army and transformed France into the most powerful nation in Europe

Determine if the following characteristics of government are associated with an absolute monarchy or not.

Respond to each question quickly because they will only be on for 10 seconds.

Multiple Choice

Has a written Constitution

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Has a ruler with divine right

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Has separation of powers

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Has religious authority and controls the church

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Mission Writes!

Based on what you’ve learned today, what does it mean to be an absolute monarch? Use one piece of evidence from today’s class to support your answer. Explain your response in 4-6 complete sentences.