Chapter 16: Absolutism, constitutionalism, and the search for order.
Absolutism: Absolutism is a system of government in which one ruler claims sole power. Louis XIV of
France was an example of an Absolute ruler
Constitutionalism: Ruler shares power with an assembly of elected officials.
Louis XIV: French absolute ruler who was young when he came to the throne and Cardinal Mazarin
Ruled for the boy enduring the cost of the 30 years war caused revolts known as The Fronde ( 1648-
1653) Cardinal Mazarin cause some revolts during the Mid- 1600’s and Louis XIV was fled to France.
When the Cardinal died Louis XIV never forgot the embarrassment this was part of why he was such an
absolute ruler. He used entertainment instead of violence which made the nobles cooperate with him.
Louis used gifts, pensions, higher rankings to increase his power among others. He Glorified his image
with public works and construction. He constructed Versailles the palace, and therefore no one really
had time to rebel against him or needed a reason. The formation of Jansenists made Louis XIV nervous
of religion giving individuals right and therefore enforced the Edit of Nates (1685).
Revocation of Edict of Nantes: Due to Louis XIV absolute nature he Revoked his grandfather’s Henry VI
Edit of Nantes(1598) and close Calvinist school, children were taken away from their families to be
raised catholic and many fled the country. France was to be Catholic under Louis XIV.
Bureaucracy: Network of state officials caring out orders according to a regular routine line of authority.
Mercantilism: Governments must intervene to increase national wealth by whatever means possible.
This led to manufacturing monopolies in trade.
Levellers : Disgruntled soldiers and insisted in leveling social differences and to allow more participation
of parliament and the people.
Social Contract: Authority comes from divine right among citizens.
Fredrick William of Hohenzollern: Great Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia which he succeeded in
controlling his scattered lands.
Stenka Razin The head of a powerful band of pirates and outlaws in southern Russia led a rebellion
that promised liberation from the great noble landowners.
Classicism: Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for a classical period, classical
antiquity in the Western tradition, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to
emulate.
Salon An informal gathering held regularly in a private home and presided over a socially eminent
women. Love, Literature, Philosophy
