Please keep in mind that we will be seeing issues of CENTRALIZED authority v. DE-cenralized authority all year. We've seen elements of DE during the middle ages where feudalism governed; weak kings strong lords. Then, when our class begins we begin to see the Birth of New Monarchs. Spain is born, France is unified after the 100 years war, Henry VII will smash the nobility AND the Pope( who i'm happy to refer to in the context of a new monarch) has full power over his flock and he's based in Rome(remember, we'll see criticism of this in "Germany" HRE)  Absolutism is the NEXT step in centralizing authority. The king is the boss, parliaments and the nobility will need to obey. The people will usually fall in line. The religion of the King, ALMOST certainly (at this point in the west at least) will be Catholicism. Remember, one of the reasons behind the  English civil war is the return or threats of stuart dynasty to flirt w catholicism. The faith, the law, the MONEY of the country is meant to do one thing: SERVE the state, BUILD the state, MAKE the state powerful. Louis XIV will be the MAN. Cardinal Richelieu who is a politique abroad BUT an advocate of absolutism at home works tirelessly to squash the Huegenot threat during Louis XIII reigns. Ultimately, Louis XIV (honestly guys, JUST remember him--HE IS HUGE!!!) will REVOKe the Edict of Nantes. Having a different faith from the king is CHALLENGING the king. You don't do that. Colbert will help formulate the economic policy known as MERCANTILISM. NO free trade, ALL tariffs, ALL trade is meant to enrich the STATE. #englandisdifferent( in this case, a bit different)

 

****absolutism will evolve in our class. By the time we get to the 20th century, absolutism will follow the same ideology of state control of $, "faith", people, the father figure aspect (cult of personality)

 

glorius revolution- James get's run out of town and his replaced by his daughter, Mary and here Dutch husband william of orange. They will promise parliament to GOVERN with them. They create a bill of rights and ultimately, England is a land where PARLIAMENT governs with the aide of a king. The people win. In Europe, (IN FRANCE!!!) the King, LOUIS! wins RULES, CONTROLS!