Teacher's Guide for CALLIOPE: Louis XIV, The Sun King

Teacher guide prepared by: Nancy I. Colamussi, Elementary Education, Rocky Point School District, Long Island, New York.
Have your students use the timeline on page 3 to answer the following questions.

1. How old was Louis XIV when he was declared of age to rule without his mother acting as regent?
2. How many years was Louis XIV married to Marie-Therese before she died?
3. When did the Nine Years' War begin and end?
4. How many years of peace were there between The War of Devolution and The Dutch War?
5. How old was Louis XIV when he died?

ANSWERS:

1. 13 years old
2. 23 years
3. 1688 - 1697
4. 4 years
5. 77 years old

1. Louis XIV liked to be known as ______________________ because the sun is the brightest star in the heavens.



2. To house all his activities, Louis XIV spent enormous sums of money building the grandiose ______________________________.



3. When Louis XIV was too young to rule, his mother, Anne of Austria, was the new regent. She placed her trust in _____________________________ for guidance on most issues.



4. With about ___________________ people, France was the largest and most densely populated country in 17^th-century Europe.



5. The French Monarchy operated according to a _______________________________, which meant that the king was thought to derive his power directly from God, not from the people.



6. In 1659, ___________________________ was signed, thereby ending the war with Spain.



7. Louis XIV became profoundly religious as a result of the influence of ___________________, whom he secretly married after Marie-Therese died in 1683.



8. Although the majority of people in France were __________________, there was a well-established Calvinist minority called the Huguenots.



9. Saint-Cyr educated more than _________________ during the century of its existence.



10. Louis XIV, with collaboration from his most trusted advisors, worked for a number of years on a manuscript called, ______________________________________________. It was intended to teach his son and heir the business of being a king.

ANSWERS:

1. The Sun King
2. Palace of Versailles
3. Cardinal Jules Mazarin
4. 20 million
5. Divine Right Monarchy
6. Peace of the Pyrenees
7. Madame de Maintenon
8. Catholic
9. 3,000 girls
10. Memoirs for the Instruction of the Dauphin

1. 1. How did Louis XIV try to win the support of the wealthy nobles? (p. 4)
   2. Write about a time that you tried to win the support of your friends or parents on an important issue. What strategy did you use and tell why you were or were not successful.
2. 1. Use the facts on page 7 to describe Louis XIV's "Palace of Versailles."
   2. Use specific details to describe your room, or try to draw an accurate floor plan of your room. Choose 3 of the most special things in your room and put a star by them.
3. 1. "The Wars of Religion" were an entire generation of civil wars. This means the citizens of a country are fighting themselves over religious beliefs. In this case, wars between Catholics and Protestants were causing unrest in France. Explain the circumstances that allowed this to continue over such a long period of time. (p. 9-10)
   2. Think of a conflict that arose in your life due to a difference in beliefs. Use details to explain the situation.
4. 1. Explain how the French Monarchy operated. (p. 11)
   2. How is this similar to, and different from, how your principal rules the building?
5. 1. Louis XIV was determined to end the disorder that was so widespread when he assumed personal power in France. Describe the process by which he did this. (p. 17)
   2. Make a list of at least 3 problems in your city or town. Choose one and create a detailed plan for addressing the situation.
6. 1. Explain why Louis XIV's reign was so violent. Use details from the article, "Why So Many Wars?" to support your answer. (p. 18-20)
   2. Has there ever been a rivalry between different schools in your area? Or on a larger scale, between your country and another country? Use details and describe in a paragraph what was at stake in the conflict.
7. 1. Why did Louis XIV want to control his people's religious beliefs? (p. 21-23)
   2. How do you feel about the actions he took to try to achieve this control? Give reasons for your answer.
8. 1. King Louis XIV had a very public life and it was often the case that his family's every movement was the focus of international attention. Read the article, "A Public Private Life" and explain the ways in which it was obvious how much he loved his family. (p. 24-25)
   2. Choose a political or entertainment figure and write about the struggle to maintain some privacy in their very public lives.
9. 1. What did the School at Saint-Cyr teach and what were the qualifications for being enrolled there? (p. 26-27)
   2. Imagine you are going to create a specialized school in your town / city. What would the curriculum consist of and whom would you allow to enroll?
10. 1. What 2 tactics did Louis XIV employ to try to reduce the monarchy's debt? (p. 30-31)
    2. Think of a time you did not have enough money for something you wanted to buy. Describe 2 ways that you tried to raise the money.
11. 1. It is thought that perhaps Louis XIV stated on his deathbed that he loved war too much. Write an essay explaining how that statement refers to his lifetime of rule. Use specific details to support your answer. (p. 31-32)
    2. Write about a time that you thought about getting involved, or got involved, in a situation that you knew was harmful to you or others around you.
12. 1. Explain why the writing of memoirs and letters is so important for history. (p. 34-36)
    2. If you keep a journal, write a paragraph telling how this has been helpful in your life OR write a letter to a friend / relative living far away and tell them of some important events that have recently taken place for you, your family or your town.
13. 1. The article "The Legacy of Louis XIV" discusses the positive and negative aspects of his reign and tells of the legacy he left. Divide your paper and make a list of the positives and negatives. At the bottom, discuss his legacy. (p. 37-40)
    2. Now on the other side of your paper, create a positive / negative list and a legacy section for one of the former U.S. Presidents.
14. 1. Describe how the political and economic situation during Louis XIV reign affected the style of furniture. (p. 42-44)
    2. Think about what materials are plentiful in your area and what kind of furniture is practical for your way of life today. Using these considerations, draw a detailed piece of furniture, and indicate what each section and decorative piece is made from.
15. 1. Read "The Art of Gilding" and discuss how the process differs on different surfaces. (p.47-49)
    2. Explain how you must handle your bicycle / skates differently on different surfaces. (road, dirt, puddles, sand, grass, etc.)

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Updated: 8/21/08 06:25 pm
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