Age of Absolutism leads to the Age of Revolutions

1. Age of Absolutism leads to the Age of Revolutions 1450 – 1750 Political System Social System Economic System Cultural System (mannerism to baroque) More secular Education Enlightenment (includes Scientific Revolution)

2. Absolutism and its limits • Absolutism was possible because the European economy was expanding, allowing the creation of (comparatively) larger bureaucracies • Kings found ways to strip nobles of their political power • However, kings had to concede freedom from taxation to nobles • The limits of a pre-industrial economy limited the effectiveness of royal power. • Main concern of governments was still raising taxes and fighting wars. • Even this proved too costly for most kings

3. Queen Nzinga (1583-1663) Louis XIV(1643 -1715) Shah Abbas(1588-1629) Frederick William the Great Elector(1640-1688) Charles V(1519-1556) Elizabeth I 1558-1603) Phillip II (1556-1598) Akbar(1556-1605) Kangxi (1661-1722) Tokugaw Iseyasu(1598-1616) Peter the Great(1682-1725) Suleiman(1520 – 1566) Absolute Monarchs & Gunpowder EmpiresLate 1500s – 1700s

4. Repeating Characteristics • Appearances of authority • Accoutrements of power • New cities • Great Monuments • Divine Authority • Must 1st control the aristocracy and replace with a new bureaucracy • Administrative body that has non-elected officials and procedures • Chosen through different processes such as through inheritance or by merit • Military structures and new types of persons to control the military • Taxing structures and tax collectors • How does the aristocracy fight back • Mercantilist practices • Self-sufficiency • Control of trade through tariffs • Control of trade routes • Increase production of goods • Deal with the issue of merchants and increased trade • Increase banking practices and use and control of silver and gold • Religious conflict • Either forced conversion or compromise • Require large military force either navy or army or combination of both • This requires large taxing bureaucracy • Geography of empire • Where does it began and what methods are used to expand • Requires a before and after map • Greatness which should include cultural accomplishments • Rebuttal

5. Louis XIV • 1643-1715 • Centralized the administration of France • Government • Financial • Military • Expanded the territories of France

6. Absolute Best Example – Sun KingLouis XIV • Revoked the Edict of Nantes • Used the position of Intendents created by Cardinal Richelieu under Louis XIII • Aristocracy required to live at Versailles and serve him personally • They advance by getting royal favors and offices • Built Palace at Versailles

7. Financial Stability • With his minister Colbert, he carried out the administrative and financial reorganization of the kingdom, as well as the development of trade and manufacturing. • Streamlined the tax (taille) collection system • revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 which caused some 200,000 people to flee France • These were some of the most industrious peoples of France and they took their capital with them

8. Mercantilism • state intervention to create a self-sustaining economy. • Colbert used an aggressive tariff policy to manipulate the import of raw materials and the export of manufactured goods to improve the balance of payments. • He also fostered domestic trade and industry by improving communications (roads and canals), eliminating internal tolls, expanding the navy, increasing colonial trade through the East India Company and by subsidizing certain industries (tapestries and furniture).

9. Military Reform • With the Marquis de Louvois, he reformed the army and racked up military victories. • War with others across Europe in 30 Years war to create balance of power • War of Spanish Succession • Phillip II his grandson gets Spain but Treaty of Utrecht forbids the Bourbons to combine the crowns of France and Spain

10. Cultural Patronage • Finally, Louis encouraged an extraordinary blossoming of culture: • theatre (Molière and Racine) • music (Lully) • architecture, painting, sculpture, and all the sciences (founding of the royal academies) • Versailles became the seat of lavish spectacles, such as ballets, balls, hunts, and receptions, all presided over by the Sun King himself and attended by the educated international nobility.  • French became the universal language of Europe

11. Controlled the Aristocracy • Had no time to tend to our own affairs and the landed gentry and their properties developed in disrepair • Peasants on the land • Forced the Parliments of Paris to register its edicts before issuance • established state factories for luxury goods (the most famous was Les Gobelins). • regulated every possible aspect of the private sector:  - the innumerable guild ordinances and product règlements were meant to ensure high manufacturing standards, but they spawned a parasitic bureaucracy  and cramped the free development of industry.

12. Intendants • Within the confines of his particular district, each Intendant gave form and shape to all facets of the royal government.  • For example, the Intendant supervised the local law courts and nobles, worked to eradicate smugglers and bandits, recruited soldiers, oversaw the collection of taxes, regulated the marketplaces, guarded against famine, and dealt with the guilds and towns.  • Moreover, he sometimes would decide court cases himself.  • These Intendants were in constant contact with the King’s court, communicating with him and the state councils about what was happening in their districts, and receiving orders on what was to be done next. • An important aspect of the Intendants was their social origins.  The king chose to use individuals whose upper-class status was recent.   • These men were not embedded in the traditional, centuries-old power arrangements, as were the ancient nobility.  The “new aristocrats” had no independent political power or influence:  they owed their authority and status to the king himself.

13. Rebuttal • While we were tending to his personal needs in the Palace the bourgeoisie undermined our position as lords of our domains. The peasants are beginning to refuse to pay their feudal obligations to use the village oven and the flour mill and the wine press. Even though we are exempt from the Taille we pay for our worship of the sun king through our lands. • He is unchecked and has waged wars across Europe. • He will bankrupt the economic system and eventually allow too much power to the bourgeoisie. They will revolt!

14. The Bourgeoisie • Bourgeois • ‘city dweller’, eventually meant ‘middle-class’ • Transformation of the European economy in the middle ages led to increased numbers of a wealthy, non-aristocratic merchants and craftsmen based in cities • This group traditionally allied with the king against the nobles • The bourgeoisie provided a pool of educated men that the king could place in the bureaucracy • The king got loyal, competent bureaucrats and did not have to rely on the aristocracy to help him govern • The bourgeoisie obtained power and prestige usually denied to non-nobles, and even the possibility of becoming noble

15. End of War and Louis XIV • 1713 – • Treaty of Utrecht ended the War of Spanish succession which involved a Bourbon successor to the throne which was a concern to other monarchs throughout Europe as this might upset a balance of power • Philip was allowed to remain King of Spain as long as the thrones of France and Spain were not united • Louis died in 1715 - prompting great celebration throughout France

16. Gardens of Versailles

17. Imagery at Versailles (Le Roi Soleil)

18. France after 100 years War 1453

19. Four major powers in Europe early 16th century prior to Louis XIV

21. Europe: The Age of Absolutism

22. Charles V • Hapsburg remnants of Holy Roman Empire began with Otto I (936 – 973) • CharlesV (HolyRomanEmpire) (1500-1558), HolyRoman emperor (1519-1558), and,as Charles I, king of Spain (1516-1556), • Has to fight the Ottomans • Has a diverse and separated empire to hold together • Watches it begin to disintegrate • Signs the Peace of Augsburg (1555) to resolve some of the religious conflict and thereby gives up a great deal of authority over his Germanic dominions

23. Empire issues • Plus ultra to describe his empire • His reference is to “Even further” for his empire • King of Spain • Emperor of Holy Roman Empire • Includes the Netherlands because of Spanish Empire • Born in Ghent (his father Phillip ruled the Netherlands and was Duke of Burgundy) • Spoke French as his first language • Also Kingdom of Naples as heir to Aragon • Iron hand in a velvet glove

24. Centralization • Attempted to create a constitution, and increase its financial and military strength. • An agreement was reached as to how the estates of the realm should share in its government, according to a scheme called the Reichsregiment—how the expenses of the imperial chamber etc. were to be met and how the estates were to furnish the emperor military assistance in war • Too many realms and divisions • Empire was not contiguous

25. 1700 Europe After the 1648 Peace of Westphalia

26. 1700 Europe

27. The Global Empire of Charles V

28. Economic and political stability • With individuals Charles dealt still more effectively—in Spain chiefly with the burghers, in the Netherlands with the higher nobility. • The latter he won to his support by bestowing on them the most important offices and holding out hopes of the Golden Fleece • the former he hoped to win by leaving them the control of taxation, so that they might regulate it uniformly, and therefore less oppressively • Church benefices • Textile regulation in the Netherlands

29. Spain • In Spain the opposition to Charles' policies was found in the Cortes and in the city governments, but still more among the lesser nobility, the Hidalgueria, who resisted all agricultural progress as well as the emperor's external policy

30. Rebuttal- Charles gives up • There is just too much going on around me for me to hold this realm together. Turks to the east, natives in the Americas, economic changes in the Netherlands and religious problems throughout. Although I tried, no one policy could pull it all together

31. Frederick William the Great ElectorPrussia • 1640-1688 • Frederick William I (ruled 1709-1710) • his grandson Frederick the Great (1710-1740) • Hohenzollern • Brandenburg • Combined territories to form Prussia

32. Frederick William the Elector of Prussia Brandenburg to Hohenzollern (r. 1640-1688) Frederick William I • The Prussian Army • The General War Commissariat • The militarized state • The deal with the Junkers • Inviting immigrants • Mercantilist economics • Left the Prussian empire economically sound, with an efficient military, and centralized authority

33. Militarism • The Great Elector increased taxes threefold and increased the size of his army tenfold • Had an army of 40,000 which was the fourth largest in Europe • Recruited men who were over 6 foot tall • Created the bureaucratic agency called the General War Commissariat to levy taxes for the army and administer its growth

34. General War Commissariat1688 • established to levy taxes needed to support the Army and its growth. • became an civil government agency as well. • Commissariats was used to govern everything. • Had to be strangers to the district for which they were appointed • This agencies help centralize power and allowed for Fredrick Williams successors

35. Absolutism in Prussia • Holy Roman Empire fragmented after the 30 Years War (1618-1648) • Frederick William, the Great Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia (r. 1640-1688) • Turned small collection of German states into rising European power • Made deal with Junkers • Prussian nobles • Junkers allowed him to raise taxes to pay army, in return, Frederick allowed them complete control over their serfs • Created the War Commissariat Prussian Grenadier

36. Count von von Seckendorf – ambassador from Vienna comments on the Prussian military It is certain that nowhere in the world one can see troops comparable with the Prussians for beauty, cleanliness, and order. Although in drill, training, and marching much is forced and affected, nearly everything is useful and efficient. Besides, it must be admitted that the army and the troops lack nothing that is needed. The soldiers number 70,000, and every regiment has at least a hundred more men than the normal figure. The Arsenal is superabundantly provided with field artillery and siege artillery, and only the teams are missing. Moreover, there is such an enormous store of powder, shot, and shells as if a great war was threatening. In Berlin and all about Brandenburg one sees as many troops moving as one saw in Vienna during the last war against the Turks. All this activity is directed by the King in person, and only by him. Besides, he looks after the whole public administration in all its branches With such care and thoroughness that not a thaler [note: a monetray unit]is spent unless he has given his signature. Those who do not see it cannot believe that there is any man in the world, however intelligent and able he may be, who can settle so many things personally in a single day as Frederick William the First, who works from 3 o'clock in the morning till 10, and spends the rest of' the day in looking after and drilling his army....

37. Deal with the Junkers • In order to eliminate the power that the members of the nobility could exercise in their provincial Estates-General, Frederick William made a deal with the Junkers.  • In return for a free hand in running the government (in other words, for depriving the provincial Estates of their power), he gave the nobles almost unlimited power over their peasants, exempted them from taxation, and awarded them the highest ranks in the army and the Commissariat with the understanding that they would not challenge his political control.  • As for the peasants, the nobles were allowed to appropriate their land and bind them to the soil as serfs” (Spiel.4th Ed. 436-7).

38. Prussia

39. Religious toleration led to financial security • Many Hugeonots migrated to Prussia (Edict of Potsdam 1685) • Frederick William positively encouraged religious toleration as he believed that it would benefit his state. Jews and Roman Catholics were both tolerated in Brandenburg -Prussia as long as they had a talent Frederick William wanted for Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick William was especially keen to tempt Huguenots to Brandenburg-Prussia as they had a European reputation for expertise in business. • In 1672, a French Protestant Church was established in Berlin and, in total, about 100,000 Huguenots came to Brandenburg-Prussia ands greatly assisted in her modernisation. • By 1700, one-third of Berlin’s population was Huguenot and their skills allowed Brandenburg-Prussia to develop a flourishing candle and paper-making trade, mirror and glove manufacturing etc. Frederick William himself estimated that religious toleration increased Brandenburg-Prussia’s population by 33%.

40. Rebuttal by Junker • According to the RECESS, although I can now do as I please with my territory and the workers cannot leave me, I am afraid to confront the Great Elector because he has used my money to create such a great army, I can longer oppose anything he does. What am I to do? • He is using my money, my hard earned profits from my estates, to buy his army which he then uses against me. • I guess I will have to go join the army.

41. Succeeded by “Enlightened” • Frederick the Great (Frederick II -1712-1786) • "first servant of the state." • Prussian Hohenzollern • Started the 7 Years War (1756-1753) • Impacted three world regions – Europe, North America, & South Asia • Treaty of Hubertusburg

42. Shah Abbas(1588-1629) Safavids (1501 -1732) • Obscure origin which is most probably Sunni and Kurdish, the Safavids (named after a sufi master, Shaykh Safi) • forged for themselves an illustrious genealogy that goes back to `Ali, and proceeded to forcibly change Iran into a Shiite state. • In the process they shaped the modern image of the Iranian nation. • The greatest Safavid monarch, • he moved the capital to Isfahan in 1598, • built there a royal city that extended to the south of the old city and connected it with the Zayandeh river via a wide avenue, the Chahar Bagh (Four Gardens) Avenue.

43. Shah Abbas Mosque - Isfahan

44. Safavid Empire

45. Cultural control • 1st Safavid ruler to conquer the territory of Persia was a 14-year-old boy by the name of Ismael (Shah Ismael – Shah being the title the Safavids used for "emperor"). • Ismael lived up to the legend of descent from Muhammad in his exploits. • He was apparently quite devout, and seemed also to be unable to lose a military campaign. • His "red cap" army was absolutely devoted to him, and took extreme risks in his name. • Ismael established the first Safavid Capitol City in Isfahan, and went on to rule according to Islamic principles. • His claim to descent from the 12th Imam meant, of course, that he had to rule according to Shiite, rather than Sunni principles of Islam, and he and his successors were often quite brutal in forcing their subjects to become Shiite Muslims (the majority had been Sunni prior to the Safavid arrival). • To do this, subjects often were required to prove their change by cursing the names of the first three Caliphs • There were often small uprisings as a result and the “red cap” army of the Shah had to remain large and significant

46. Centralization • local Qezelbash chiefs had grown wealthy in land and in collecting taxes. • Abbas put to death many of the Qizilbash tribesmen who had traditionally been associated with Safavid rule up to this point, and instead surrounded himself with an elite household guard. • He used slaves as governmental officials • thousands of Georgian, Circassian and Armenian prisoners captured in campaigns fought in the Caucasus in the 1540s and 1550s. Female slaves entered the royal harem, becoming mothers of princes and a force in court politics and dynastic quarrels. • Some of the male slaves began to acquire positions of influence, under Shah Abbas I, reaching high offices that challenged the supremacy of the Qezelbash.

47. Military • He recruited soldiers from Persian villages and from among Christians, Georgians, Circassian, Armenians and others, equipped them with artillery and muskets. • The Christians were proud to serve the shah and to call themselves "Ghulams" (boys) of the shah although slaves they were not. • To finance the new army, Shah Abbas converted large pieces of land traditionally granted to tribal chiefs as assignments into crown lands that he taxed directly. • This new military force was trained on European lines with the advice of Robert Sherley. • Sherley was an English adventurer expert in artillery tactics who, accompanied by a party of cannon founders, reached Qazvin with his brother Anthony Sherley in1598. • In a short time Shah Abbas created a formidable army, consisting of cavalry, infantry and artillery.

48. Military reorganizationcreated a national army • Hired Robert and Anthony Sherley – British mercaneries to help reshape his military • Three bodies of troops were formed, all trained and armed in the European manner and paid out of the royal treasury: the ghulams (slaves), the tofongchis (musketeers), and the topchis (artillerymen). • With his new army, Abbas defeated the Ottoman Turks in 1603, forcing them to relinquish all the territory they had seized, and captured Baghdad. • He also expelled (1602,1622) the Portuguese traders who had seized the island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf in the 16th century. • Shah Abbas remarkable reign, with its striking military successes and efficient administrative system, raised Iran to the status of a great power.

49. Economic Stability • His domestic policy was marked by a real interest in building up the infrastructure for a successful economy. New roads and bridges were built and he imported skilled merchants from Armenia to help build up the silk trade with India. • As part of the stabilization process he enforced adherence to Shi'ism and acceptance of Farsi as the national language.

50. Economic and Religious stability • Created a monopoly within his empire to profit from the production of silk and silk carpets • adherence to Shi'ism • Tolerant of Christianity and allowed many churches to be built and allowed Christians to dress in what they wanted and allowed them to own property within the empire • Mosques Masjid i Shah and the Masjid i Sheykh Lotfollah; and other monuments including the Ali Qapu, the Ghehel Sotun, and the Meydan-i Shah.