Absolutism in Europe 1500-1700

  • Period: Jul 24, 1519 to Jul 24, 1556

    Charles VI Rules Spain

    He was the Holy Roman Empire. Always at war with France, Protestants, Ottomans, all non-Catholics.
  • Period: Jul 25, 1554 to

    Philip II rules Spain

    Son of Charles V, he ruled Netherlands, South Itlay, and Spain most importantly. He centralized Spain and was a Guardian of the Cahtolic Church, and he was an Absolute Monarch. He ushured in the Golden Century.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1568 to

    Eighty Years' War (Dutch Independence)

    The Dutch revolted against the Spanish. Ends with the Dutch being its own thing
  • Period: to

    Anglo-Spanish War

    England fought Spain over Netherlands, Brittany, and Ireland. The war ended with the Treaty of London
  • Spanish Armada

    The Spanish Armada was defeated by Queen Elizabeth I
  • Union of the Crowns

    King James I (Also referred to as King James VI) united the English and Scottish royalty and ruled them both after the end of the Tudor dynasty.
  • Period: to

    King James I rules England

    He ushered in abosolutism to England by taking all power that he could. He wan't English, so he did whatever he wanted for he was unaware of custom and tradition. He was one of the first to believe in the Divine Right to Rule, meaning that he though that God chose him to rule over the Scots and the Brits. There was no balance of power, merely HIS power. He hated and discriminated against the Puritans (which made up the House of Commons).
  • The Gunpowder Plot

    A plot to kill the king Charles I by a bunch of Catholics. It failed. This led to Anti-Catholic beliefs and laws being passed. It was later known as Guy Fawkes Day as he was one of the chief conspirators.
  • Jamestown

    The English make their first permanent settlement in the Americas.
  • Treaty of Antwerp

    A break in the fighting of the Eighty Years' War for 12 years
  • Period: to

    Kind Louie XIII

    Ruler of France, he limited the power of the nobility to give himself more and he created intendants: people in charge of essentially spying on officials
  • Period: to

    Thiry Years War

    Between most countries in Europe (Largely France vs Holy Roman Empire). Ended with the Peace at Westphalia: this was the first democratically solved treaty after a war.
  • Period: to

    King Charles I of England

    He unified the religion of Scotland and England under the Anglican Church and created the Book of Common Prayers. He oftentimes locked Parliament out of voting for something and hired (or sold off their positions to) others more willing to do what he wanted.
  • Petition of Rights

    King Charles I needed cahs to fund his seemingly infinite wars, so he decided to create a legislation in exchange for funds. This legislation is the Petition, and it guaranteed:
    1) No imprisonment wtihout due cause
    2) No teaxation without Parliament agreeing to it
    3) No quartering
    4) No martial law (during peacetime, which Charles would ensure never happened)
  • Period: to

    Short Parliament

    A Scottish rebellion cause people to demand more protection. This led Charles I to call Parliament for the first time in 20years, Parliament didn't agree to it, so he dissolved it and created the Long Parliament
  • Period: to

    Long Parliament

    Created after the destruction of the Short Parliament, its purpose remained the same: pass financial bills. This was far stronger than the previous one and passe many key acts.
  • Period: to

    English Civil War

    A war between the rich aristocrasy of the House of Lords (Anglican landowners) and the House of Commons comprised of merchant Puritans. Began with Charles I's failure to detain 5 PMs of the House of Commons and ended in Charles I's execution
  • Period: to

    The Levellers & The Diggers

    A kind of political party, though more secretive than most. They despised Cromwell and worked against him as much as they could. The original Libertarians. A subdivison of them, the Diggers, were near Communist in their land distribution by splitting up as evenly as possible amongst the poor. They wre not well liked.
  • Period: to

    Agreement of the People

    Manifestos by the Levellers that forced these issues:
    1) Abolished political corruption
    2) Religious tolerance
    3) Universal suffrage (for all white landowning males, of course)
  • Period: to

    The Fronde

    French Civil wars fought over how much vontrol the king and nobility shoulld have. Louie quelled this and shone as a leader
  • Peace at Westphallia

    Ended the 30 Years' War. A lot of the Holy Roman Empire was broken up
  • Battle at Worcester

    The ending of the English Civil War with Cromwell's beheading the king after accusing him of treason.
  • Period: to

    The Protectorate

    Cromwell ruled during this time like a dictator, dissolving Parliament and declaring martial law. He also discriminated against Catholics, leading to his desecration of Irish Catholics: the two things that he hated most. It ended when Cromwell died, more or less.
  • Period: to

    Oliver Cromwell

    An Englishman who overthrew the government and controlled it 'for the good of the people.' His impact on English as a dictator or not is debated. He is the one who defeated Charles
  • Period: to

    First Anglo-Dutch Wars

    Fought by sea for merchant rights. England gained a monopoly on sea trading.
  • Period: to

    King Charles II

    The son of King Charles I, he was made king after Cromwell's death to quell the power stuggle. He ushered in the Restoration, a period where he forgave and pardoned his father's enemies. He also created many religious tolerancy laws and reopened theatres.
  • Period: to

    Cavalier Parliament

    Extremely Royalist, they pardoned anybody on good terms with the king. They helped restore and cultivate the Anglican Church, causing other religions to be persecuted.
  • Period: to

    King Louie XIV-France

    He moved the centre of government to Versailles, he lessened STILL the influence of other noblility so that he could be the sole person in charge, unifies the religion of France
  • The Act of Uniformity

    Parliament decreed only Anglican prayers could be preached outside. They had to release a new Book of Common Prayer so that people would know what they could and could not do.
  • Period: to

    Second Anglo-Dutch War

    Dutch won over the right to trade again. They defeated both France and England
  • The Great Fire of London

    The fire burned about half of the city for about 3-4 days
  • Period: to

    Third Anglo-Dutch War

    England and France wanted to seek vengence upon the Dutch upoin their humiliation last war. France was already attacking the Netherlands, though now they had the English navy behind them
  • Test Act

    An act by English Parliament that restricted non-Anglicans in civil and political positions
  • Habeas Corpus Act

    An extention of an ACt in 1640, it promised that a prisoner would at least be told why he was imprisoned.
  • Period: to

    Peter the Great of Russia

    An absolutist at heart, Peter propelled Russia from its primitive technology and policies to that of the more modern Western Europe. He weakened the boyars, Russian princes, so that they couldn't challenge him and he changed the architecture and infrastructure of Russia to that of a European nation.
  • Period: to

    King James II

    A Catholic English king, he refused to negotiate with anybody. He ignored Acts of Parliament and gave his opponents a reason for revolution.
  • Declaration of Indulgences

    King James decreed that religious tolerance be extend to all Christians without consulting Parliament. Specifically, it allowed them to worship in their own homes and it allowed them to participate in government without a religious background check.
  • Period: to

    Glorious Revolution

    William of Orange invaded Britain at the behest of the Anglican political opponents of King James. This resulted in William taking the throne.
  • English Bill of Rights

    An amendment that secured basic rights, and helped the severed relationship of the King and Parliament