The Age of Absolutism (1600s-1700s)

• The Age of Absolutism was the period in European history when nations were governed (ruled) by absolute monarchs.
• The term “monarch” means “king.” Absolute monarchs were kings who had total control over the nations that they ruled.
• Absolute monarchs centralized political control, which means that they did not share power with anyone else.
• Absolute monarchs believed in Divine Right, which was the idea that kings received their power to rule directly from God.
• Absolute monarchs believed that their power was unlimited. They made laws without the consent (approval) of the people.
• Peter the Great- He was the absolute monarch of Russia. He also westernized Russia, which means that he imitated the customs and traditions of countries in Western Europe to strengthen his nation.
• Louis XIV- He was the absolute monarch of France
• Philip II- He was the absolute monarch of Spain.
• Henry VIII- He was the absolute monarch of England.
• Suleiman the Magnificent- He was the absolute monarch of the Ottoman Empire.
• Peter the Great, Louis XIV, and Suleiman the Magnificent helped expand the territory of their nations by taking over neighboring lands making them absolute monarchs.