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History Test 1: Absolutism
Terms in this set (74)
-was a system to provide some order and stability
- developed after the fall of the ROman Empire
- was dominant in Europe C. 1400
- "the chain of being"
How was the Catholic Church a unifying force in Europe?
The church served to promote cultural unity and religious homogeneity. The people could rally behind their shared religious beliefs to form a community of similar people.
Feudalism's "chain of being"
god on top, followed by the king and then the three classes:
1. The Clergy- pray and offer religious intelligence
2. Nobility- fight and provide security/wealth
3. Peasants and Serfs- work and provide food and goods (80-90% of population)
- rebirth of learning, ideas, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome (1400-1500)
- start of secularism- promoted worldly affairs (art, humanities, science, math)
- rise in the popularity of humanities- furthered interest in studying human condition
- sailed in 1492, backed by Spain, was trying to reach India by going West
- differed from the Portuguese, who were exploring the west coast of Africa until the late 1480's
1494 Treaty of Tordesillas
- mediated by Pope
- created line of Demarcation
- all non-christian lands west of the line were Spain's
- all non-christian lands east of the line were Portugal's
Spanish and Portuguese attitude at the end of the 15th century
- Spain and Portugal felt entitled to the whole world, they believed that the world was theirs to divide
- started in 1517
- corruption in the church (indulgences, sexual deviance, greed) pushed people to rebel from Catholic traditions
- Luther thought religion should be personal, individual
- MAIN IDEA-- salvation by faith alone; any person can connect directly to God
Results of the Reformation
- creation of new "protestant" churches
- sparked an era of religious warfare (century of bloodshed)
- government was theocratic so not only was there external religious warfare, but there was also internal religious warfare
- freedom of ideas (learning and science) from Catholic dominace
How did the Reformation effect the development of absolutism?
- the era of disorder and religious warfare sparked by the Reformation left society craving order and discipline
-this ushered in a new era of strict absolutism
- monarch has all or almost all political power
- supreme political authority
- ruler has no rivals for power
- "I am the state"- Louis XIV
What was the quality of life in the 16th and 17th century?
- chaos and warfare
- religious conflict, economic crisis, political disorder
What is the basic job of government?
- to provide order, stability, peace and security to it's people
What does a government need?
- money (from taxes)
- officials (bureaucratic)
- legitimacy (intangeable
the heir to the throne
What was the key to the Ottoman Empire's wealth?
- the key was the intense organization and discipline exemplified by the Ottomans
Where was the Ottoman empire located?
What challenges did the Ottoman empire face?
- running a multi religion empire
- Arab world was ruled remotely from Instanbul- a European country
How did the Ottomans combat the challenge of ruling the Arab world remotely?
- Mohammed's companion's remains were "found" in Istanbul, most likely a stunt to prove to the people that Istanbul was an important part of the Muslim world and a successful attempt to establish religious Authority
- successor to Muhammed, Muslim equivalent to pope
- Patriarchal role, caliph is patron to the people
- Suleiman claimed position as Caliph
- code of law written in 600 AD
- Suleiman reformed Shiria law, to make the code more relevant to current crimes (at the time)
- sultanic law, secular, and preeminant to Shiria law
Grand Mufti; Grand Vizier
- Leader of Muslim affairs
- Secular Leader (prime minister)
- both under the Emperor
- system of enslavement of Christians
- Christian children were taken and raised as Muslims
- Sultan's personal army, made up of slaves
- gave him a source of military power separate from Ottoman nobility
What is the Significance of the English Experience?
- start of our current system
French View of absolutism (Bossuet on Luis XIV)
- "divine right of kings"-- it is God's will to have a king rule as God rules in Heaven
In Hobbes's opinion, why absolutism?
- men are selfish and will never live in peace when left alone
- men need an absolute power, one man to provide unquestionable judgement, to which all must sign away their free will
- practicality, God is not above a dictator
- "nature"-- human nature creates the need for absolutist government
- Magna Carta signed in 1215, principle of limits on power of King
- early 17th century James I wanted to rule by divine right; restricted by Magna Carta
- contributes to the creation of parliament
- lawmaking body based on representation
- created with Magna Carta in 1215
- 1534--Henry VII created Anglican Church, headed by King (himself)
- new church brought the government money, power, was the "Church of England"
- by the 17th century England is divided;
1) Anglican Church
2) Catholicism was still a threat
3) Puritans (protestants)
- Puritans consider both Catholics and Anglicans to be too worldly and corrupt
- old money was the nobility/land owners, traditionally land owners were the elite (left over from Feudalism)
- new money was the merchant class
King Charle's side of the English Civil War
- believed in divine right
- traditional nobility (old money)
Parliament's side of the English Civil War
- wanted government based on representation
- new money/ merchant class wanted a voice in parliament
What was the English Civil War(1642-1649) about and how did it end?
- conflict was over sovereignty and who has the authority to tax, control the army, and to make the laws
- ended when the King lost the war, went on trial in front of Parliament, and was beheaded
What did James I believe to e the basis of his absolute power?
- believed that he had divine right and God chose him to rule by giving him divine right
Regarding the English Civil War: What groups of people sided with Charles I? Who was opposed to him>
- Catholics and especially Irish Catholics sided with him
- Puritans and supporters of the parliament were against him
What kind of government was practiced under Oliver Cromwell? What happened to it after he died?
- Though the government was theoretically a commonwealth, Cromwell was actually a Military Dictator.
- He ruled in favor of Puritans, outlawing sports, closing theaters and censoring the press.
- He allowed Protestantism only and killed Irish Catholic priests in an effort to take back Ireland and undermine Catholicism.
- After his death his son failed and Cromwell's dictatorship fell apart.
What kind of ideas did Hobbes want to use as a foundation for political philosophy? How was that different from the other absolutists of the era?
- While Bossuet argued religion placed monarchy before any other government, Hobbes used a scientific, logical approach to support absolute monarch.
How did Hobbes view human nature?
- Hobbes had a very pessimistic view of human nature. He believed that humans use passion to make decisions rather than logic.
- "believing that people are innately selfish and grasping"
What kinds of conflicts, according to Hobbes, are inevitable because of human nature?
- when two people want the same thing that can only be attained by one, they become enemies and want to destroy each other
- a man will be in war with other men his whole life; for his needs to be fulfilled it is constant competition
What is the impact of warfare on human society?
- when life is lived in warfare, industry does not thrive, and people live "solitary, poore, nasty, brutish and short.."
- also a lack of security: people take what they want, even other people
What steps should be taken in order to provide security for people according to Hobbes?
- build a "Common Power" that can protect people so they can live well
- all people must submit to one person's judgement for things to be fair
- every single person must sign his right to govern himself over to that man
- this one man will hold so much power that everyone will fear the Commonwealth
- all men must be absolutely loyal to the Sovereign and can take no other leader without his permission
- no man can follow "God" instead of or before the Sovereign
- no man can be freed from the Sovereign's rule
To what extent could one consider Louis XIV to be considered a successful king?
- His creation of Versailles solidified the French as an insurmountable power, while simultaneously centralizing all French power
- He was a true absolutist ruler-- he answered to no one and he was the state, the height of absolutism
- Grew France's economy alongside his financial adviser, focusing on Mercantilism and exporting
- greatly expanded France's landmass and military; also standardized weaponry and strengthened military training
- however he did run the economy dry by the time his rule ended, as well as pushing France into war for far longer than he should have
What does Busbecq's first meeting Suleiman reveal about the sultan's attitudes toward Europeans?
- While Suleiman was composed, he was stern at best, and disdainful at worst
- This shows that he has a low opinion of Europeans
What sources of Ottoman political authority are present in Busbecq's account?
- Political authority came solely from the Sultan's assessment of a man's merit. Therefore, a man's place of birth, wealth or popularity were all disregarded in turn for his character, his ability, and his disposition.
How did Busbecq define the differences between the Ottoman Empire and Austria? What do you think he hoped to accomplish by highlighting these difference?
- He points out that power and achievemnt com from merit and hard work in Turkish society, while the standard for everything in Austria is birth. All people dressed the same in the Ottoman empire, as opposed to the adornments paid for by those who could in Austria. The crowd is also very well organized and efficient, unlike the loud and jostling crowds of Austria, the Turkish army is far more self-sufficient than the Christian Army. Overall the Ottomans have more money, better discipline, resources, order, skillful army, and vigilance, while the Christians are the opposite. He hoped to show Austrian government that they need to make order within Austria if they want to succeed.
Shortly after Suleiman's reign, the Ottoman Empire began to enter a period of decline, What in Busbecq's account of points to future problems for the Ottoman state?
- The wealthy were not awarded power under Suleiman, so the upper class may have become restless and started to take power as they pleased-- potentially ruining the system. The Sultan's system for providing an heir could also cause diverse loyalty between the people and the heirs.
How do you think Busbecq's outsider status shaped his perceptions of Ottoman political and military life? To what extent does his role as a foreigner enhance or undermine the usefulness of his account for historians?
- Because the Ottoman system was not natural to Busbecq, he had a fresh perspective and was able to describe details that native Turks may have overlooked. However, his foreignness prevented him from becoming a trusted or high-rank member of Turkish society.
What were some of the crises faced by European governments in the seventeenth century?
- population decline as a result of war
- reduced agricultural productivity as a result of climate changes
- miitary competition
- religious divide
- increased taxation
- continuous war
What were the major social groups in Europe during the seventeenth century?
- the clergy- got power from the church
- nobility- old family fame and money
- merchant class- could buy power
- peasants, farmers, artisans- no power
What was life for the vast majority of people in the seventeenth century (in the countryside)? What were some of the living conditions of farmers?
- the peasants, farmers, and artisans were the vast majority, including the merchant class to some extent
- the village was the center of rural life, land owners were the leaders of the villages
- people lived with the constant threat of famine and plague, and were desperate for food
- lived in war caused by religious tension
- people were dirt poor, hungry and angry
What was the Thirty Years War's long time impact on Europe?
- the Peace of Westphalia that resolved the Thirty Years War caused monumental shifts throughout Europe
- the treaty ended conflict over religion, weakened power of German Emperor, recognized religion as legal, granted Dutch Republic freedom from Spain
- the war resulted in huge population decreases
- poor lost their land, the rich consolidated their power
What did absolutist and constitutionalist governments all seek to accomplish?
- protect and expand their frontiers, raise new taxes, consolidate central control, and compete for colonies and trade in the New and Old Worlds
What obstacles did governments face in order to rule their nation-states effectively?
- monarchs had trouble gaining absolute control without roads, knowledge of their realms, common language, and power to destroy local powers
- governments also had trouble maintaining the balance between having enough money to run their country without taxing citizens too harshly
Who was Cardinal Richelieu and what were his major accomplishments in France?
- He was the first minister of the French crown
- He designed domestic policies to strengthen royal control
- He extended use of intendants (men who recruited men for the army, supervised tax collections, presided over the administration of local law, checked up on local nobility, and regulated economic activites in their districts)
- as intendants' power grew, so did that of the centralized French State
What were the Austrian Habsburgs's main accomplishments?
- They weakened the nobility and made the government more absolutism.
- Centralized government
What was "mercantilism" and why was it significant?
- a collection of governmental policies that derive from the idea that a nation's international power is based on its wealth
- to accumulate wealth, a country always had to sell more goods abroad than it bought
In what ways did the palace at Versailles reflect and reinforce Louis XIV's absolute rule?
-The Palace at Versailles was extremely luxurious and expensive at the time. This symbolized Louis XIV's lavish wealth and absolute rule, ensuring Frances place as an intimidating and insurmountable enemy.
According to Bossuet, what is the purpose of government?
- According to Bossuet, all men are born with a natural instinct to start wars whenever conflicts arise. Therefore, a government must be present to counter this nature.
Why does Bossuet believe that people should value a powerful government over them?
- He believes that people become stronger when they are controlled
- A strong government will unite the people and create a force stronger than any one person
What is the job of the head of government (i.e. a prince or king)?
- the job of the King is to provide for his people (safety, security)
What kinds of people did the Louis XIV come to distrust? How did he feel towards others of talent?
- Louis XIV believed that people better than him should be considered inferior to him but should still be respected.
- He distrusted the nobility
- hated people of talent
What does Bossuet have to say about the strength of monarchies versus republics? Why does he believe monarchies tend to win?
- Bossuet believed that republics could be indecisive and could not make a clear decision like a monarch could.
According to Bossuet, what are the bases of royal authority? What are the duties of a king?
- Bossuet believed that the Divine Right of Kings was the bases of royal authority.
- The Duty of the King was to provide defense for the nation, keep the people happy and preserve christianity.
What positive qualities did Saint-Simon see in Louis XIV?
- Saint-Simon believed that Louis's posture, voice and overall physical structure was perfect for a king.
What did Saint-Simon consider to be the consequence of Louis XIV's vanity?
- Saint-Simon believed that the consequence of Louis XIV's vanity was a decrease in quality in government officials as well as possible corruption.
Did Saint-Simon consider the King to have been intelligent? Why was the King unable to educate himself well?
- Saint-Simon implied that the King was not intelligent due to his vanity and spoiled habits. The fact that The King purposely appointed ignorant officials also implied a form of ignorance by the king.
How did the Ottomans come to power in Anatolia?
- The Ottomans were originally horsemen that resided in Anatolia. After becoming more organized, they formed a more formal army and were able to take over Anatolia after that.
- The taking of Constantinople was important to the Ottomans because it was a major hub with libraries, ports, roads and buildings.
What steps did Suleiman I take to make Ottoman law and government particularly effective?
- Suleiman I reformed previously corrupt financial and bureaucratic policies and created balanced governmental budgets.
-Suleiman also Had Lutfi Pasa, a poet and scholar of slave origin to make a code of laws that "prescribed penalties for routine criminal acts...". This a very unique way of creating a code of laws/
What was the impact of the use of janissaries in the army? How did their use strengthen the Ottoman government?
- Janissaries were not only an elite squad of soldiers, but they also challenged the influence of old Turkish families. They were also used to assimilate the Christians living within the Ottoman Empire.
How much power did Ottoman nobles have compared to the nobility of Europe?
- Ottoman Nobles did not have as much power because they they didn't get their power passed down from their parents.
Who was Mimar Sinan?
- Suleiman's head architect, was the greatest architect of the Ottoman era
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