AP
Est. 1300
Get Wrecked for European History
Time to learn some history!
Absolute Monarchy is Established
Absolute monarchies limited the nobility's particion in governace most often because the monarchy wanted to be the only one ruling, there fore kicking them out of any position for governing. But, the aristocracy's social position and privelages remained as it did not challenge the monarch's rule. Nobles who wished to be part of the governing of a state obviously would take away some of a monarch's control, therefore making it no longer a absolute monarchy, as the monarch was sharing power with another person. but the aristocracy keeping their privelages did not affect a monarch's rule, so they were not affected.
A quick example of this is Peter the Great of Russia. When he had started Westernizing Russia, the aristocracy was not affected as much as other groups of people. They got to keep all special priveleges they had before. But the nobles had power taken so the monarch could have true, absolute power.
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay
Peter the Great began his 'westerization' of Russia by taking him and 250 upper classmen to tour Europe and learn technical skills. In 1700, Russia was attacked by Sweden so Peter decided a modern army would serve Russia better. Moderization also meant westernization, so during this time many western people and ideas flooded into Russia. Peter soon started reforms that required Russian nobles to wear western clothing and shave their traditional beards, along with allowing parties where men and women could mix freely. Catherine the Great continued this process by allowing women into positions of power, expanded Russia's land, and continued political reforms started by Peter the Great. These reforms included consolidating power from the feudual lords and serfs.
Sources: A History of Western Society by McKay, http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/catherine2.html
Enlightened absolutism can be described as the rule of a monarch who adopted Enlightenment ideals of rationalism, progrece, and tolerance without renouncing their absolute authority. One example of this is Frederick the Great of Prussia, who ruled from 1740 to 1786. Frederick II focused on culture and literature instead of the military, as his father did. This is most likely due to the Seven Years War, which made him less interested in territorial expansion and more so in humane, enlightened policies. He stated that the more his people were enlightened and taught morals, then the happier they would by. Frederick the Great abolished torture, simplified laws, and promoted agriculture after the Seven Years War ended. He lived in modest housing and often referred to himself as "a servant to the state".
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay
Louis XIV and his finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert centralized authority in France by introducing absolutism. It was well known that Louis had no want to share power, he claimed he was the state so all people should liten to him. Louis XIV first built the Palace of Versailles and moved in, then required all nobles to live there too. This way they couldn't run the small areas they owned. And since they couldn't run them, Louis would send people there, his people, to run them the way he wanted. And the nobles could do nothing about it since they couldn't leave Versailles.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was controller general of Louis XIV. He helped Louis do as he wished, creating the Palace de Versailles so the nobles couldn't run their areas, by boosting France's economy. Jean-Baptiste believed that international power was based on wealth compared to other countries, so naturally he implanted mercantalist ideas into French economy. He started by demanding that everything French people needed should be made by the French. Then he lowered tariffs on Frech made goods and raised tariffs on foreigners' goods, so the French people were more likely to by Frecnh and supprt their own economy. He also sent people to present-day Canada to mine rich minerals and use the rich soil found there. Due to all this raising foreign tariffs and claiming land in the New World to create more goods, Jean-Baptiste was able to help Louis XIV to build the Palace and fight all the wars he wanted without creating a massive taxing on the French people.
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay, the slideshow you showed us
Westernisation included many people needing to shave their long beards. Russians traditionally grew large, impressive beards but that all changed because of Tsar Peter. He decided that Russians had to shave their beards because thats what it was like in western Europe!! Here he is trying to cut off a nobleman's handsome beard.
Explain how the inability of the Polish monarchy to consolidate its authority over the nobility led to Poland’s partition by Prussia, Russia, and Austria, and led to its disappearance from the map of Europe
So just like now, Poland kind of sucks. Back during this time, Poland was made up of a bunch of tiny kingdoms and every noble was focused on their on power. This was, as the spanish say, "no bueno". Why? Because these tiny baby states couldn't defend themselves from a stray herd of geese, let alone the great kingdoms of Russia, Prussia, and Austria! So that's exactly what happened, the three surrounding kingdoms; Prussia, Russia, and Austria all took over the tiny Polish kingdoms! Then, because they couldn't defend themselves in the least, Poland disappeared for a long while.
Source(s): A History of Western Society by McKay
Absolutism Leads to Alternative Political Systems
The Dutch Republic seperated from Spain and entered the 'Golden Age of the Netherlands'. This period is marked with a rejection of monarchy and establishing of a Republic state. In the Netherlands, an oligarchy of their wealthy merchants dealt with the domestic affairs in each province.
The Dutch gained most of their prosperity through trade, mainly in shipping. They became the largest merchant marine in all of Europe and had the lowest shipping rates, these things combined helped them to undersell foreigners and boost their wealth significantly.
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay
The English Civil War and Glorious Revolution helped protect the gentry and aristocracy in many ways. The Civil War pitted the King and Parliament against each other, ending with the King's defeat. Cromwell captured the English King and dismissed those in the Parliament who did not agree with him (Cromwell). The King was then put on trial for treason and executed, ending the monarchy. This put Cromwell in charge, who disbanded Parliament and began mercantilist policies which helped boost England's marine industry.
The Glorious Revolution was the replacement of kings and the end of divine-right monarchy in England. This reintroduced te Parliament, but only for the wealthy upper-class. This helped the aristocracy because then they could get more power now that the monarchy wasn't hampering them.
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay
So there was this thing called the Peace of Westphalia, and it kinda let the princes of the Hapsburg states choose their own religion. And since the Holy Roman Empire didn't have that unity caused by religion, it got pretty weak. Like if it were a person, it'd be in bed coughing up blood and flatlining every few minutes. The theoretical flatlining would be caused by the fact that princes would fight other princes to try and expand their own land. Kinda stupid but hey whatever man, screw unity. So then Frederick the Great of Prussia swoops in like "Eyy get up in my army and lit's fight in that War of Austrian Succession" and then the people in these kingdoms were like "HECK Y E H" and did just that. So anyway, the whole reason this happened is because the Holy Roman Empire decided to lighten up on their rule after the Peace of Westphalia, and then everyone just fouht each other. Cool.
Source(s): A History of Western Society by McKay
Hooo boy was our homeboy Louis XIV a control freak maaaan he was like a Napoleon but more of a wimp. But still, he tried to own France and Spain by having that whole War of Spanish Succession, luckily he lost. As said earlier, he's like a wimpy Napoleon. But he wasn't done trying to rule the world (ie Europe) and that made other European countries a bit upset. How would you feel if this dude just wanted to own everything?? Anyway, these European countries all banded together to make sure that NO MATTER WHAT the Spanish and French monarchies DID NOT UNITE. It was a good thing to invest in tho.
Source: A History of Western Society by McKay
Britain and France have always had a hate-hate relationship with each other. One of the simple reasons, Britain was stubborn and Protestant while France is devoted and Catholic. During the whole 'look the New World!1!' thing, France and Britain often fought over colonies. Now, Britain experienced a great growth in agriculture and naval power at about the same time France was weakened by it's terrible disgusting monarchy. So, Britain passed over France and became the world's new superpower!! And Britain stayed there, at the top, until the United States fought against it for independence and straight up stole that spot out from under them. USA! USA! USA! USA!
Source(s): A History of Western Society by McKay
Competition for trade between European countries led to lots of conflict and rivalries. The main reason for this compitition was the common belief of that time that there was a limited amount of wealth in the world. Due to this belief, many people thought that you must get as much money as possible before someone else does. As countries in Europe tried gaining as much riches as possible, they often stepped on each others toes. One common way this would happen is one country places heavy taxes on imported goods, so citizens would be more likely to buy domestic goods. This would be good for country A, who imposed the tariffs, but country B would lose money as the heavy taxes would make sure no one bought their product. This obviously would cause some rivialries between countries as they fought to gain more wealth that the other. Basically, countries fought each other because they wanted all the trade for themselves so they could get as much wealth as possible because everything in the world is limited. Simple.
Source(s): A History of Western Society by McKay
