Absolute Monarchies

The "Age of Absolutism" comes from a series of European monarchs who increased the power of their central governments.

Absolute Monarchy: Rule by one person (King or Queen) who has absolute power; no restriction of laws, legislature, or culture

Characteristics

• Centralization of power
• Concept of rule by divine right

Causes

• Church loses power after the Reformation
• Wealth from the colonies
• Large armies constantly at war

Divine Right:

• Idea that:
• God created the Monarchy
• Those that are born into royalty are given "divine right" to rule
• The King acts as God's representative

LOUIS XIV

LOUIS XIV

• Known as “The Sun King”
• l'état, c'est moi ("I am the State!)
• Very fancy.

Versailles becomes a symbol of Royal Authority

"One King, One Law, One Faith"
Edict of Nantes Revoked; Protestants (Huguenots) were suppressed under his rule

Peter the Great

Mongols ruled Asia for years, which is why their culture, systems, and beliefs did not match the Western World

Peter the Great

• Becomes Tsar (Czar); immediately tries to westernize it
• Simplifies Alphabet
• Creates a capital at St. Petersburg