Age of Absolutism
The Age of Absolutism was a period of European history which ran roughly from 1500-1800. During this period, the monarchs of Europe centralized their power and developed the basis for the modern nation-state. The period was characterized by constant warfare, struggles between monarchs and their nobility, and large-scale building projects.
The Rise and Fall of Feudalism
Feudalism was a response to the collapse of the Roman Empire. The enormous Roman Empire had dominated life in Europe and spread its control far and wide. However, in the wake of its collapse, government became a strictly local affair.
Local nobles arose in the aftermath of Rome's collapse, each claiming fairly modest fiefdoms. Over time, these nobles would unite under tenuous relationships with a local monarch to improve their safety and expand their lands. Monarchs during this period were often weak, as they were very dependent on their nobility for their power.
By the 1550s, however, several new develops were taking place that would begin to centralize power in the hands of monarchs at the expense of local nobility.
1. The Reconquista- The enormous military effort (which required an advanced system of control) put into winning the Reconquista had the effect of centralizing power in the hands of a series of Spanish monarchs.
2. American Wealth- The enormous amounts of wealth being drawn from the Americas saw the development of national and regional economies, at the expense of the local economies of the feudal period.
3. Atlantic Trade- Given the expansion of trade that was taking place between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, it was necessary to protect the trade routes that bound the Atlantic World together. To this end, ever-larger navies were being created by the monarchs of Europe, furthering their own power.
4. The Church in Decline- The power of the institutional Church was in decline. The Reformation, religious wars, and the rising threat of Protestantism undermined the ability of the church to maintain power in many parts of Europe. New Absolute Monarchs rushed to fill in this power gap.
Divine Right of Kings
Absolute Monarchs claimed the right to rule based on the Divine Right of Kings, or that God anointed them leaders.
These absolute monarchs acquired vast powers over their kingdoms, notably at the expense of their nobles and legislatures.
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