The Rise of Absolutism and the Decline of Feudalism in Europe

Absolutism and the Decline of Feudalism in Europe

1. Absolutism and Parliament

• Absolutism: The king has all the power in society.
• Parliament: The king does not have all the power; the people have a say in government.

2. Economic Changes

2.1 Agriculture

• Agriculture became less productive.
• The land became less fertile due to frosts, heavy rain, and droughts.
• Demand for agricultural products decreased.

2.2 Craft Production

• Craft production continued to be regulated by associations called guilds.
• The domestic system allowed for cheaper products to be produced more efficiently.

2.3 Trade

• Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, and the United Provinces became important trading nations.

2.4 Taxes

• Ordinary people were taxed to pay for the military and luxuries of the court.
• Nobles demanded higher rents and more services from the peasants, who grew poorer and had to sell their lands to pay their debts.
• The bourgeoisie bought the lands at low prices.
• Towns and cities grew poorer due to high taxation and the crisis of the guild system.
• Urban revolts were caused by growing taxation and shortages of food in cities.
• Peasants revolts were in response to pressure from the nobles and taxation.

3. The Spanish Monarchy

3.1 Felipe III and His Successors

• Felipe III ruled the largest and most powerful kingdom in 1598.
• His successors, Felipe IV and Charles II, continued his policies.

3.2 Validos (Prime Ministers)

• Duke of Lerma: Felipe III's valido, pursued a peace policy in Europe.
• Count-Duke of Olivares: Felipe IV's valido for 20 years, introduced financial reforms and the Union of Arms.

3.3 Expulsion of the Moriscos

• In 1609, the Moriscos (Muslims who had converted to Catholicism) were expelled from Spain.

3.4 Rebellions

• Catalonia: Rejected the Union of Arms and started a revolt that was eventually crushed.
• Portugal: Did not want to pay the Union of Arms and became independent with the support of other European powers.

3.5 Economic Decline

• Agriculture and livestock decreased.
• Craft production decreased.
• Trade with the Americas decreased.

4. Spain's Foreign Policy

4.1 Peace Policy

• Felipe III and the Duke of Lerma followed a peace policy.
• They made peace with England in 1604 and a 12-year truce with the United Provinces in 1609.

4.2 War and Decline

• In 1621, Spain went back to war against the United Provinces.
• Spain intervened in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) on the side of the Holy Roman Empire against German Protestants.
• France became concerned about the power of the Spanish monarchy and joined the Protestants in 1635.
• In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years War and Spain recognized the independence of the United Provinces.
• The war with France continued until 1659, when Spain ceded territories in Europe to France in the Treaty of the Pyrenees.

5. France under Louis XIV

5.1 Foreign Policy

• Louis XIV's main aim was to consolidate France's hegemony.
• France fought wars with Spain, the United Provinces, and the Holy Roman Empire.
• Louis XIV inherited a colonial empire in America.

5.2 Economic Policy

• Louis XIV had large expenses due to his aggressive foreign policy, the construction of Versailles, and the maintenance of the court.
• The king's ministers protected royal factories that produced luxury products.
• Trading companies were given monopolies of trade with regions in America and Asia.
• Customs duties were raised, increasing the price of imported products.
• Regulations controlled the quality of products.

6. The Dutch Republic

6.1 A Parliamentary Republic

• The development of trade led to the rise of a rich bourgeoisie.
• The bourgeoisie gained control of parliament and acquired great political power.
• The United Provinces became a republic formed by 7 provinces.
• Representatives from all the provinces met at the States General, where they made joint decisions.

7. England

7.1 The Stuart Dynasty

• The kings of the Stuart dynasty attempted to govern their territories in Great Britain and Ireland as absolute monarchs, without parliament.
• A revolution in 1640 led to a civil war in 1642.
• The war ended with the fall of the Stuart dynasty.
• Charles I was executed and the monarchy was abolished.
• Oliver Cromwell came into power and established a dictatorship.
• Parliament restored the monarchy in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
• The Bill of Rights restricted the king's power and set out the rights of parliament.
• England became a parliamentary monarchy.

7.2 Economic and Social Changes

• The expansion of English trade led to the emergence of a prosperous bourgeoisie.
• After the civil war, the prestige and importance of the gentry (country nobility) was consolidated.
• In the 17th century, the gentry owned about half of the land in Britain and used modern agricultural methods to obtain maximum profit.