2. Age of Absolutism
• Monarchs had complete
authority
• Divine Right legitimized
their rule to the common
people
• Period defined by rulers
who kept power for
decades
• Charles V split the
Hapsburg Empire when
he retired in 1556
3. Spain
• Philip II was given
control of the western
Hapsburg empire
• Ruled from 1556-1598
• Philip II was a hard
working, suspicious
leader as well as
devoutly Christian
• Married Mary I of
England
ESCORIAL
4. Social Unrest in Spain
• Spanish were a regional people
• Castile region in power under Philip II
– Language, Capital (Madrid)
• Other regions resented Castile
5. Philip’s Religious Policy
• Religious minorities faced inquisitorial
persecution
• Protestantism never took hold in
Spain
• Efforts to Catholicize the Netherlands
led to Dutch independence and a war
with England
6. Spanish Armada
• Protestant England
threatened Catholic
Spain worldwide
• In 1588, the Spanish
Armada attacked
England, but was
defeated
• Defeat marked the
beginning of the end of
Spanish naval power
7. Golden Century
• Miguel de Cervantes
wrote Don Quixote
• Expulsion of religious
minorities leads to over
taxing of middle class
• Inflation
9. Tudors (1485-1603)
•
•
•
•
Henry VII was first Tudor
Henry VIII was most powerful
Edward VI (age 9)
Mary married Philip II and led a return
to Catholicism (1553-1558)
• Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558
and ruled for 45 years
10. Elizabeth’s Reign
•
•
•
•
Intelligent and strong willed
Refused marriage
Period of cultural growth
Social classes were important and
fixed
• Kept England in severe debt
11. English Foreign Policy
• With no more holdings on Europe,
English Channel was vital for
protection and thus the Navy
• Balance of power in Europe helped
control growing nations
• Conflict existed with Scotland and
Ireland
• Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
13. FRANCE’S BOURBON DYNASTY
• Henry IV (1589-1610)
– First Bourbon
– Edict of Nantes
• Louis XIII / Cardinal
Richelieu (1610-1643)
– Centralize Monarch’s power
– Attempted to weaken
Hapsburgs
14. LOUIS XIV (1643-1715)
•
•
•
•
•
Gave power to middle class
1685-Cancels Edict of Nantes
Moved Capital to Versailles
Domestication of the Nobility
Wars vs. the Netherlands
– League of Augsburg
• War of Spanish Succession 17001714
17. Conflict
• Protestant princes vs. Catholic Hapsburgs
• 30 Years War (1618-1648)
– Ruined German Economy
– French Influence
– Peace of Westphalia (p. 170)
•
•
•
•
•
Hapsburgs focus on Austria
Maria Theresa
Emergence of Prussia (Frederick II)
War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)
7 Years War (1756-1763)
