Absolute Rulers
Which French king was known as the Sun King?
Louis XIV
What does power mean in this unit?
The ability or capacity of individuals or groups to make things happen or influence others.
Which English king strongly supported the Divine Right of Kings before Charles I?
James I.
What major conflict began between supporters of Charles I and Parliament?
The English Civil War.
Who was Peter the Great?
The ruler of Russia who introduced major reforms and strengthened Russia as a European power.
What idea claimed that a monarch received the right to rule directly from God?
The Divine Right of Kings
What does identity mean in the context of this unit?
The characteristics, beliefs, image, roles or values that shape how a leader, group or nation is understood.
What institution challenged the power of the English monarch?
Parliament.
Who fought against each other in the English Civil War?
Royalists, who supported the king, and Parliamentarians, who supported Parliament.
What does westernization mean in relation to Peter the Great?
Adopting ideas, technologies, customs or practices from Western Europe.
Name one ruler from this unit who tried to strengthen centralized royal power.
Louis XIV / Peter the Great / James I / Charles I.
Give one example of how a ruler used image or symbols to strengthen their identity.
Possible answer: Louis XIV used the image of the Sun King and Versailles to present himself as powerful and central to France.
Name one major issue that caused conflict between Charles I and Parliament.
Possible answers: Taxation, royal authority, religion, limits on the king’s power.
What happened to Charles I after Parliament’s forces won the conflict?
He was tried and executed.
Name two areas that Peter the Great reformed.
Possible answers: Military, government, education, economy, culture, administration.
Why did Louis XIV build and use Versailles as an important royal centre?
To display royal power, control or influence the nobility, and strengthen his image as an absolute ruler.
How did Peter the Great try to reshape Russia’s identity?
Through reforms, modernization, westernization, military changes and stronger centralized authority.
Why did Parliament oppose some of Charles I’s decisions?
Parliament believed the king should not rule or raise money without limits and wanted a greater role in government.
How did the English Civil War challenge the idea of absolute monarchy?
It showed that a monarch’s authority could be resisted and that political power could be limited or challenged by other groups.
Why did Peter the Great want to modernize Russia?
To strengthen Russia, increase its military and political power, and make it more competitive with European states.
Which ruler from the unit best represents absolutism? Give one piece of evidence.
Possible answer: Louis XIV, because he centralized authority, promoted the Divine Right of Kings, and used Versailles and royal image to strengthen his rule.
Explain the connection between power and identity using one ruler from the unit.
Possible answer: Louis XIV used centralized power, Versailles and royal propaganda to create the identity of a powerful absolute monarch and to shape France’s national image.
Was the conflict between Charles I and Parliament mainly about money or power? Explain.
Possible answer: Mainly power, because disputes over taxation were part of a larger struggle about who had the authority to govern and make decisions.
Why was the English Civil War a turning point in ideas about political power?
Possible answer: It challenged the belief that kings had unquestionable authority and contributed to changing ideas about the relationship between monarchs, Parliament and government.
Did Peter the Great’s reforms strengthen Russia more than they changed Russian identity? Explain.
Possible answer: Both were connected. His reforms strengthened Russia politically and militarily, while westernization also changed how Russia saw itself and how it was viewed by other European powers.