Divine of Kings
Who was considered the only judge for monarchs during this time?
god was the only one who could judge a monarch.
How did monarchs justify their power?
They used the theory of divine right.
A key figure of Emergence & Consolidation
Who is Philip II of Spain?
Monarchs aimed to export more goods than they imported.
How did absolute monarchs attempt to create a "favorable balance of trade"?
a distinct political theory prevalent in Germanic states that treated the state as a commercial enterprise.
What is Cameralism?
who was given the name "the sun king"
King Louis XIV
How did monarchs centralize their political power?
by stripping local nobles of their influence, monarchs created large, centrally controlled bureaucracies, levied national taxes, maintained standing armies, and tightly regulated religion
The ideology of The Zenith of Royal Power
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
Colonies were vital to the absolutist economy as they served two main purposes
What role did colonies play in mercantilism economic policy?
the creation of the first formal civil service exams, centralized economic planning, and the promotion of early manufacturing
What is Statecraft?
What caused the fall of the divine right of kings?
The doctrine heavily clashed with the rise of Enlightenment ideals, which promoted social contracts, natural rights, and the consent of the governed.
by stripping political and military rights from the Huguenots
How did Cardinal Richelieu pave the way for French absolutism?
An archetype of absolutism, centralized the French state and constructed the Palace of Versailles.
Who is King Louis XIV of France?
He strictly applied mercantilism policies to make France the wealthiest state in Europe.
Who was Jean-Baptiste Colbert, and what did he do?
The meticulous management of state revenues, taxes, and expenditures.
What is Kameralien (Public Finance)?
Where did the concept originate?
The theory is deeply rooted in the Bible, notably in Romans 13 (where the Apostle Paul states that governing authorities are instituted by God).
Mercantilism
What was the primary economic system used by absolute monarchs to centralize wealth and power?
The ideology of Enlightened Absolutism
What is Enlightened?
Before Peter the Great, Russia's economy was largely agricultural and isolated from Western Europe. Peter the Great used absolute power to modernize the Russian economy
How did Peter the Great change the Russian economy?
Strategies to increase agricultural output, promote proto-industry, and manage natural resources.
What is Oekonomie (Private and Public Economy)?
Why was the concept of Divine Right so threatening to the power of the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages and the Reformation?
Traditionally, the Pope and the Church served as the ultimate moral authority and kingmaker. Divine Right allowed monarchs to bypass the Church and claim their power directly from God, giving them absolute control over both state and religious matters.
Monarchs bypassed the old aristocracy by hiring royally appointed officials to collect taxes, enforce laws, and run the state. These bureaucrats were loyal only to the crown.
What is Royal Bureaucracy?
The cause of the unraveling of Absolute rule
What is the French Revolution?
High taxes and royal monopolies led to a higher cost of living.
How did absolute economic policies affect the common people?
A broad administrative mandate that went far beyond law enforcement. It encompassed public health, moral order, urban planning, fire safety, and education.
What is Polizei (Police Science)?