Absolutism Test Updated Questions and Answers Verified
What kind of power did the sovereigns of this period feel they had?
Divine power.
What do we call a sovereign who governed a nation single-handedly?
Absolute monarch.
Which nation reigned supreme at the beginning of the age of absolutism? Where
did the power shift to, later?
The Spanish nation. To two rivaling powers-in-the-making: France and Britain.
Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella have to build a large naval fleet?
To protect their new colonies and trade routes.
Where did Charles V hold lands in Europe? What does this tell us about his
influence?
In parts of France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany. That he favored Catholicism
over Protestantism.
What Dynasty included several powerful monarchs in France?
The Bourbon Dynasty.
Who was Cardinal Richelieu and what did he want to do?
He was a Catholic minister to the Bourbons and he wanted to strengthen the French
Monarchy.
Who would France later be ruled by after Cardinal Mazarin?
Louis XIV.
Under what family did England experience peace and prosperity?
The Tudor family.
What was promoted under the Elizabethan Age?
Great exploration and expansion.
Why was Oliver Cromwell influential?
He executed King Charles I and ruled as "Protector of the State."
What kind of power did William and Mary have in England?
Limited power.
Why was there not a powerful monarchy in Germany?
Germany consisted mainly of several independent states.
What war erupted between Protestants and Catholics which threatened the power
of the emperor in Germany?
The Thirty Years War.
How did Russian monarch, Ivan the Terrible get his nickname?
He greatly expanded the Russian empire where he was known for his brutal conquering
tactics.
Why was King James known as James I and James VI?
He was King James I of England and King James VI of Scotland.
What religion were William and Mary?
Protestant.
What religion reigned supreme in the United Kingdom after 1701?
Protestantism.
Why do you think a George, in particular, was chosen to succeed the Stuart
family as the new monarch of the United Kingdom?
, He was a cousin of the Stuarts so he was the next closest heir to the throne.
Describe how the highly successful Tudor family came to the throne of England.
After Henry VII won the War of the Roses, the Tudor family came to the throne. Henry
VII had three children who ruled for 118 years and it ended with the last Tudor, Queen
Elizabeth I, after ruling for 45 years.
Why did the Tudor family not continue its reign after 1603?
Queen Elizabeth I died and had no children or husband to succeed her.
How did the religious differences between Catholics and Protestants in Europe
continue to plague England?
It resulted in the martyrdom of many innocent believers of both Protestantism and
Roman Catholicism.
What did Louis XIV do to bring absolute monarchy to its height during his reign?
He established a glittering court at Versailles and fought most of the other European
countries in four wars.
What sorts of things characterized the early, middle and later years of Louis'
reign?
Early: Louis was dominated by the chief minister Cardinal Mazarin. Middle: Louis
reigned personally and innovatively. Later: His personal rule was beset by problems.
How would you characterize Louis' childhood? Why?
It was terrible. The royal family was twice driven out of Paris, and at one point Louis XIV
and Anne (of Austria and also his mother) were held under virtual arrest in the royal
palace in Paris. This civil war brought Louis XIV poverty, misfortune, fear, humiliation,
cold, and hunger. This shaped his character and he would never forgive either Paris,
the nobles, or the common people.
What did the great nobles and judges of parliament do to show their displeasure
to what Louis' ministers were doing?
They launched a major launch but coordinated revolt.
How did the actions of the aforementioned nobles and judges shape Louis'
character later in life?
The royal family was twice driven out of Paris, and at one point Louis XIV and Anne
were held under virtual arrest in the royal palace in Paris. This civil war brought Louis
XIV poverty, misfortune, fear, humiliation, cold, and hunger.
What events ultimately led to France becoming the leading power in Europe?
The Peace of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years' War, together with the
Peace of Pyrenees (1659), which concluded prolonged warfare with Spain, made
France the leading European power.
How was Louis finally able to take sole authority of the government?
He became his own chief minister, thereby ending the long "reign of the cardinal-
ministers." A sensational 3-year trial (1661-1664) of the powerful and corrupt financial
minister Nicolas Iouquet sent the crooked finance minister to prison for life.
What did Louis do to break from normal tradition and how was this viewed by
people like duke de Saint Simon?
Louis excluded from his council, great princes, and others of the old military nobility; his
reliance on the newer judicial nobility led to the duke de Saint Simon to call this,
mistakenly, "the reign of the lowborn bourgeoisie."
What were some of the actions Colbert took to help the economy of France?
What kind of power did the sovereigns of this period feel they had?
Divine power.
What do we call a sovereign who governed a nation single-handedly?
Absolute monarch.
Which nation reigned supreme at the beginning of the age of absolutism? Where
did the power shift to, later?
The Spanish nation. To two rivaling powers-in-the-making: France and Britain.
Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella have to build a large naval fleet?
To protect their new colonies and trade routes.
Where did Charles V hold lands in Europe? What does this tell us about his
influence?
In parts of France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany. That he favored Catholicism
over Protestantism.
What Dynasty included several powerful monarchs in France?
The Bourbon Dynasty.
Who was Cardinal Richelieu and what did he want to do?
He was a Catholic minister to the Bourbons and he wanted to strengthen the French
Monarchy.
Who would France later be ruled by after Cardinal Mazarin?
Louis XIV.
Under what family did England experience peace and prosperity?
The Tudor family.
What was promoted under the Elizabethan Age?
Great exploration and expansion.
Why was Oliver Cromwell influential?
He executed King Charles I and ruled as "Protector of the State."
What kind of power did William and Mary have in England?
Limited power.
Why was there not a powerful monarchy in Germany?
Germany consisted mainly of several independent states.
What war erupted between Protestants and Catholics which threatened the power
of the emperor in Germany?
The Thirty Years War.
How did Russian monarch, Ivan the Terrible get his nickname?
He greatly expanded the Russian empire where he was known for his brutal conquering
tactics.
Why was King James known as James I and James VI?
He was King James I of England and King James VI of Scotland.
What religion were William and Mary?
Protestant.
What religion reigned supreme in the United Kingdom after 1701?
Protestantism.
Why do you think a George, in particular, was chosen to succeed the Stuart
family as the new monarch of the United Kingdom?
, He was a cousin of the Stuarts so he was the next closest heir to the throne.
Describe how the highly successful Tudor family came to the throne of England.
After Henry VII won the War of the Roses, the Tudor family came to the throne. Henry
VII had three children who ruled for 118 years and it ended with the last Tudor, Queen
Elizabeth I, after ruling for 45 years.
Why did the Tudor family not continue its reign after 1603?
Queen Elizabeth I died and had no children or husband to succeed her.
How did the religious differences between Catholics and Protestants in Europe
continue to plague England?
It resulted in the martyrdom of many innocent believers of both Protestantism and
Roman Catholicism.
What did Louis XIV do to bring absolute monarchy to its height during his reign?
He established a glittering court at Versailles and fought most of the other European
countries in four wars.
What sorts of things characterized the early, middle and later years of Louis'
reign?
Early: Louis was dominated by the chief minister Cardinal Mazarin. Middle: Louis
reigned personally and innovatively. Later: His personal rule was beset by problems.
How would you characterize Louis' childhood? Why?
It was terrible. The royal family was twice driven out of Paris, and at one point Louis XIV
and Anne (of Austria and also his mother) were held under virtual arrest in the royal
palace in Paris. This civil war brought Louis XIV poverty, misfortune, fear, humiliation,
cold, and hunger. This shaped his character and he would never forgive either Paris,
the nobles, or the common people.
What did the great nobles and judges of parliament do to show their displeasure
to what Louis' ministers were doing?
They launched a major launch but coordinated revolt.
How did the actions of the aforementioned nobles and judges shape Louis'
character later in life?
The royal family was twice driven out of Paris, and at one point Louis XIV and Anne
were held under virtual arrest in the royal palace in Paris. This civil war brought Louis
XIV poverty, misfortune, fear, humiliation, cold, and hunger.
What events ultimately led to France becoming the leading power in Europe?
The Peace of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years' War, together with the
Peace of Pyrenees (1659), which concluded prolonged warfare with Spain, made
France the leading European power.
How was Louis finally able to take sole authority of the government?
He became his own chief minister, thereby ending the long "reign of the cardinal-
ministers." A sensational 3-year trial (1661-1664) of the powerful and corrupt financial
minister Nicolas Iouquet sent the crooked finance minister to prison for life.
What did Louis do to break from normal tradition and how was this viewed by
people like duke de Saint Simon?
Louis excluded from his council, great princes, and others of the old military nobility; his
reliance on the newer judicial nobility led to the duke de Saint Simon to call this,
mistakenly, "the reign of the lowborn bourgeoisie."
What were some of the actions Colbert took to help the economy of France?
