Political Ideologies
Global Absolutism
 
 
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Peter the Great As a Shipwright in Holland. From a painting by Cogen. Peter the Great went "undercover" throughout Europe, eager to learn firsthand the ways in which the nations of Europe surpassed Russia technologically (and in other ways). Peter was impressed by what he found, and upon his return to Russia, he vigorously carried out his campaign of westernization. Peter built a Western-facing city (St. Petersburg, later Petrograd, and later still, Leningrad). Peter initiated numerous social reforms, including a beard tax on boyars (Russian nobles). Peter's beard tax was an attempt to make the Russian nobility abandon its "medieval" styles in favor of more current European fashions. King Louis XIV of France.  From a painting by Mignard, in the Louvre. Louis XIV epitomized the concept of divine right of kings. Although the phrase "I am the state" was never actually uttered by the French king, it definitely suits him.
Peter the Great As a Shipwright in Holland.  From a painting by Cogen.  Peter the Great went "undercover" throughout Europe, eager to learn firsthand the ways in which the nations of Europe surpassed Russia technologically (and in other ways).  Peter was impressed by what he found, and upon his return to Russia, he vigorously carried out his campaign of westernization.  Peter built a Western-facing city (St. Petersburg, later Petrograd, and later still, Leningrad).  Peter initiated numerous social reforms, including a beard tax on boyars (Russian nobles).  Peter's beard tax was an attempt to make the Russian nobility abandon its "medieval" styles in favor of more current European fashions. King Louis XIV of France.  From a painting by Mignard, in the Louvre.  Louis XIV epitomized the concept of divine right of kings.  Although the phrase "I am the state" was never actually uttered by the French king, it definitely suits him.
 
 
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Map of territorial gains under the Treaty of Westphalia, 1648. Gains of Sweden, Brandenburg-Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, and France. Including the countries made independent and the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire.  
Map of territorial gains under the Treaty of Westphalia, 1648.  Gains of Sweden, Brandenburg-Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, and France.  Including the countries made independent and the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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