Forms of Government

Medieval

FeudalismDivine Right Dynastic

Authoritarian/Autocratic

ConstitutionalMonarchy

How Should Men Be Governed?

Absolute MonarchsHow do they compare??

Louis XIV

Louis XIV1643-1715

• ABSOLUTE MONARCHY--Sun King

• “I am the state.”• French language

• Estates General not called

• Revokes Edict of Nantes

• Versailles– Distrust of Nobility– Undermines and controls nobility

Palais de VersaillesPalais de Versailles

The OrangeryThe Orangery

Louis XIV’s Chapel

Louis XIV’s Chapel

Peter the Great

Peter the Great 1689-1725

• Creation of Russian Empire• Reforms

– Westernization• Education of nobles• Etiquette• German and French at court• Angered clergy, Old Believers, and old noble families

• Standing army• Built up the fleet• Expanded territory to the Baltic

– Capital at St. Petersburg– Became dominant power in the Baltic region

• Problems– Primitive transportation– Lack of raw materials and capital– Absence of sizable merchant class

Western Customs• Forced Russian

nobility to adopt western customs

• Western European clothing (short coats)

• Shave beards

• Women ordered to attend parties

St. Petersburg

Kang Xi

ConclusionSimilarities• All rise to power after years of warfare

(better to have strict dictator than chaos and war)

• Built strong armies• All raise heavy taxes• Expanded territory• Created a strong centralized power• Brought nobility under control • Drew advisors from middle class• Encouraged better manufacturing and trade• Brought church under government control• Did not allow religious toleration