XIV.
AGES OF ABSOLUTISM & REASON
1. Age of Absolutism *—A period of time from 1500 to 1800 when European nations
were ruled by absolute monarchs. Word for word!
• Benefits: Strong central gov’t, unites the country
• Absolutism depends on ability of the ruler/leader
Problem A bad king can ruin previous good accomplishments
• Problem costly wars
• Caused by: Crusades & Age of Exploration
2. Terms :
• Divine Right—rulers were chosen by God
• Versailles—palace in France built by Louis XIV
Built to keep his friends close, but his enemies closer
• Balance of Power—there was no one nation strong enough to dominate;
thus, the peace was kept
• Bourbons—France
• Hapsburgs—Austria
• Hohenzollerns—Prussia
• Romanovs—Russia
• Tudors—England—Stuarts
• Westernization—countries copy the ways of the West (Western Europe)
• Land Reclamation—take back land from nature
• Elizabethan Age—a period of time when Elizabeth was queen. Brought
the Renaissance to England.
Sponsored Shakespeare
3) Monarchs:
• Mary Tudor —tried to return England to RCC. “Bloody Mary.” Killed
thousands of Protestants.
• Elizabeth I —Queen of England. Brought Renaissance to Europe; restored
Anglican Church; defeated Spanish Armada. “Mistress of the Seas”
most powerful navy in the world.
• Peter the Great —Czar of Russia. (Abs. monarch of Russia.) Westernized
Russia, land reclamation by building St. Petersburg, built Russia’s first
navy, built the “Window to the West” (St. Petersburg).
• Louis XIV —King of France, built Versailles. His victories expanded
France’s borders.
4) Events:
• 1588—Spanish Armada
Who: Spain + England
What: Naval battle
Why: Spain wanted to stop England’s growing power, restore RCC in
England.
Result: England wins England becomes “mistress of the sea” and
Spain goes into decline.
• 1688—Glorious Revolution
What: Bloodless overthrow of English King (James II)
Where: England
Why: Didn’t want a Catholic dynasty ruling England
Result: Kind abdicates 1st steps towards democracy in England
• Habeas Corpus—right to a speedy trial by a jury of your peers
• Constitutional monarchy*—a form of gov. where a king/queen
inherits limited power. Word for word!
• 2party system—Whigs + Torries
• Only Parliament can levy taxes.
• Parliament becomes supreme—bicameral legislative body.
House of lords
House of commons
• Window to the West
Who: Built by Peter the Great
What: Icefree seaport
Where: St. Petersburg, Russia
Why: Could trade with Europe yearround so that Russia didn’t fall
behind
5) Age of Reason*—A period of time from 1600 to 1800 when European scholars
tried to provide knowledge to the people. Word for word!
• A.k.a: “Enlightenment”
Historical person—wouldbe supporter = Socrates
Continuation of the Renaissance
• Reasons why it could spread: 1) Printing press and 2) Renaissance &
Reformation
• Scientific method Francis Bacon
4 steps: Problem/hypothesis; test; record results; draw/test
conclusions.
• Inventions that supported AoR microscope + telescope + printing
press
• Law of Gravity Isaac Newton
• Three French philosophes preaching democratic ideas
1. Montesquieu : separation of powers into 3 branches: judicial to
interpret, executive to enforce, legislative to make.
2. Voltaire: freedom of speech, thought, and religion
3. Rousseau: people gave gov’t power to rule so gov’t should do
what people want it to do
• Economics—Adam Smith—“Laissezfaire”
• Government keeps hands off of business
• Antimercantilism
• Influenced by Rousseau
• John Locke—British philosopher—Government only exists by the
consent of the governed. Should the government abuse its privileges,
the people have the right to replace it.
