CH1 sec. 1.4.1. Absolutism: divine kings

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Bricks hm 2 TTO

CH1. The age of regents and rulers

The Golden Age

sec. 1.4.1. Absolutism: divine kings

Learning objectives

1) I can describe how the government of most European countries was organized in the 17th century.

2) I can explain why monarchs wanted central government.

3) I can describe who Louis XIV was and why he was called the Sun King.

I know the terms and dates from this section.

Absolute power

Seventeenth century

• Rich citizens (regenten) were in power in the Republic.
  
• Very unusual! Most other European countries were a monarchy = country ruled by a king.
  
• Kingship is hereditary. The oldest child succeeds the king. Ruled together with the nobility.

Absolute power

Middle ages

• King was the leader, but wasn't very powerful. Had to share power with nobility and cities.
  

• Nobles helped in the administration and led armies (feudalism).
  

• City rights led to cities having their own administration, laws, taxes and coins.

Absolute power

• From 1300 kings tried to increase their power and tried to reduce that of the nobility.
  
• Wanted a central government: rule the country from one place, with the same laws and taxes everywhere. In the 17th century a number of kings succeeded in creating a central government.
  
• Some kings even got absolute power = all power in the hands of 1 person (France, Prussia and Russia).
  
• Absolutism = form of government in which the king takes all decisions and everyone must obey him.

Absolute power

Louis XIV of France

• Ruled from 1643 to 1715 (!).
• First king with absolute power.
  
• Small group of ministers (only gave advice, took no decisions).
  
• Known as the Sun King because he was the center of power ("everything revolved around him").
  
• Kept the nobility at his court at Versailles busy with rules and rituals.

We call a country ruled by a king absolutism.

1. true
2. false

With whom did kings in the Middle Ages have to share their power?

1. farmers and nobles
2. farmers and regenten
3. regenten and cities
4. nobles and cities

In a country with central government, the country is governed from one place, with different laws and taxes everywhere.

1. true
2. false

Form of government in which the king takes all decisions and everyone must obey him.

1. absolute power
2. absolutism
3. dictatorship
4. monarchy

Learning objectives

1) I can describe how the government of most European countries was organized in the 17th century.

2) I can explain why monarchs wanted central government.

3) I can describe who Louis XIV was and why he was called the Sun King.

I know the terms and dates from this section.

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.