Absolutism+in+Europe

Gabriel Hutter


 * Absolutism**

**__Topic 1: France__**
 * Louis XIII - Louis XIV's father
 * Cardinal Richelieu - chief minister of Louis XII from 1624-1642, initiated policies that strengthened power of the monarch. Eliminated political and military rights of Huguenots but not their religious ones.
 * Taille - annual direct tax usually levied on land or property. Increased
 * Cardinal Mazarin - Italian who had come to France as papal legate and then become naturalized, carried on Richelieu's policies.
 * Fronde - Mazarin disliked by French population. Nobles of the Robe led first Fronde, Nobles of the sword led second. They were interested in overthrowing Mazarin for own purposes: to secure positions and increase own power.
 * Louis XIV - established a conscientious routine. Created a grand and majestic spectacle at the court of Versailles. Able to restructure the central-policy aking machinery of the government because it was part of his own court and household.
 * He thought of himself as the "Sun King" or the source of light for all his people.
 * [[image:http://www.dogcanyon.org/wp-content/uploads//2010/05/Louis-XIV-of-France.jpg width="230" height="323"]]
 * Jean Baptiste Colbert - Mercantilism. Colbert attempted to expand the quantity an improve the quality of French manufactured goods.
 * Versailles - Court life
 * Wars of Louis XIV - Louis pursued an increase in royal power as his desire for military goal.
 * Religion was Catholicism. Thought of himself as God's deputy in France, he wouldn't allow anyone to challenge his authority, not even the pope.
 * __Topic 2: Prussia__**
 * Hohenzollern Dynasty - First important ruler was Frederick William the Great Elector.
 * Built a competent and efficient standing army.
 * Established General War commissariat to levy taxes for the army and oversee its growth and training.
 * Junkers - landed aristocracy, served as officers in the army.
 * followed Mercantilist policies, such as High tariffs, subsidies, and monopolies for manufacturers to stimulate domestic industry and construction of roads and canals.
 * Succeeded by son Fredrick III - less militaristic, spent much of treasury building palaces, establishing a university, and imitating court of Louis XI
 * __Topic 3: Russia__**
 * Peter the Great - policy of Europeanization. He admired European technology and gadgets and desired to transplant them to Russia.
 * One of Peter's chief goals was to end the inefficiency and corruption in Russia's Government.
 * He strengthened his power as the Czar and created a senate to supervise Russian Government
 * Began a policy of appointing people to high military and administrative offices according to merit and seniority.
 * Abolished Independence of Russian Orthodox Church
 * Imposed high taxes on the Russian People.
 * Extended Serfdom.

Works Cited/Bibliography:

=

 * Cracraft, James. "Peter I, the Great." //World Book Advanced //. World Book, 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. **======