3.+Absolutism+&+Constitutionalism

The BIG PICTURE: Unit Summary and Key Vocabulary

 * Unit 3. Absolutism & Constitutionalism** (Ch 16 and Ch 17 minus chunks of Ch 16) includes 30 Years War


 * Summary:** Across Europe in the seventeenth century, rulers faced popular rebellions as a result of various economic, social and military crises. Despite these obstacles, most governments emerged from the seventeenth century with greater power and centralized authority. States solved the problem of sovereign power in two ways: absolutism and constitutionalism. Under Louis XIV France witnessed the high point of absolutist ambition in western Europe. Under Louis’ rule, France developed a centralized bureaucracy, a professional army, and a state-directed mercantilist economy. Louis XIV personified absolutist ambitions.

By contrast, England under the Stuart rulers exemplified the evolution of constitutional monarchy. Conflict between Parliament and Kings James I and Charles I, who had absolutist ambitions, resulted in a Civil War which did not resolve the question of where sovereign power should reside. Only with the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 was constitutionalism firmly established. In eastern Europe during this time monarchs fashioned absolutist states by establishing firm control over standing armies, taxation, and representative bodies, but did little to change the fundamental social and economic structures of serfdom and noble privilege. [summary adapted from McKay]

**Key Vocabulary:**
Link to Key Terms for Unit 3:

Questions to Guide your Reading

 * Louis XIV and the Culture of Absolutism**


 * English Stuart Kings and Civil War**


 * Serfdom and Prussia and Austria**


 * Russia and Peter the Great**


 * Baroque Art**

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/art-history-1600-1700-the-baroque

Special Resources:
[|Link to Versailles]