The Age of Absolutism is defined as a time period in Europe in which monarchs gained all of the power and wealth over the state for themselves, expanding the idea of single rule. The Enlightenment, on the other hand, is defined as a movement during the 18th century that rejected traditional social, religious, and political ideas, and introduced a desire to construct governments free of tyranny (or single rule). Document 3, a primary source written by King Louis XIV of France in 1660, is describing the idea of monarchy stating,“ The more you grant . . . [to the assembled people], the more it claims . . . The interest of the state must come first” (Document 3). The Enlightenment went against the political views, and morals of the Age of Absolutism. The Enlightenment challenged the views of the Age of Absolutism because it questioned the traditional authority established during this period by taking away the idea of single power, that had benefited the monarchs and the wealthy, and introducing the new idea of ruling for the good of the people instead.
During the Age of Absolutism, rulers believed in the idea of single power, but during the Enlightenment, people started to challenge this idea and introduced a new form of government free of tyranny. Document 1, a primary source written by Machiavelli in the 15th century, states, “Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved than one who is feared . . . but fear is accompanied by the dread of punishment, which never
Yaakov Kessler Mrs.Legum AP World History Enlightenment LEQ After a dark period of time a new age of philosophers committed to bettering the citizens were born. The Enlightenment Period consisted of philosophers that advocated for political, social, and economic changes. The enlightenment thinkers motivated the revolutions of the 18 and 19th century by promoting Equal rights of Man and by preaching that governments should be managed by branches instead of a monarch. One of the most influential revolutions was the American revolution whereas the American colonists were fed up with the British and declared independence from them.
Documents: Document C, Document C, and Document H The Enlightenment was a period of time during the course of the years 1685 to 1815, where European politics, philosophy, science and communications were thoroughly remade. Thinkers question traditional rule and welcomed the concept that humankind could be enhanced through rational thinking. The period of 1685 to 1815 could be called the Enlightenment due to the ideas that originated from the era that were revolutionary. Examples of these can be seen from the ideas of the natural rights of man, the proper structure of government, and the cruelty of irregular criminal punishment.
The Enlightenment was a period of great intellectual and cultural change that took place in Europe and the Americas during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It was characterized by a new way of thinking about the world that was based on reason, science, and individualism, and it challenged the traditional ideas of authority and religion that had dominated the pre-modern era. One of the key changes brought about by the Enlightenment was the shift from a feudal and religious-based society to one that was more democratic and secular. This change was driven by a number of factors, including the rise of a new merchant class, the growth of cities and trade, and the influence of the printing press.
The Enlightenment before it had brought forth the idea that man had a right to control his or her own destiny. This idea started a fire that would carry across Europe, and would eventually set off the gunpowder that had existed in France for many years. The French people were tired of struggling to live while their despotic rulers, the aristocracy, lived in splendor and lavishness. Because of the Enlightenment, according to historian and thinker William Doyle, “no distinction was now drawn between despotism, tyranny, and absolute monarchy” (Doyle 67). The people of France made this their opportunity to subject “him and all other officials to a constitution”, and “replace the rule of arbitrariness by the rule of the law”, i.e. the law created by the general will (Doyle 67).
Absolutism during the 16th and 17th century in Europe would be in both cases a time of prosperity and tyranny, it depends on how you look at it and who and where you where from back in time. Absolutism is the ideology that the king has total power over everything in the country he/she rules over. Back in the 16th and 17th century it was a period where there were kings and queens ruling a country and each one would have been a fair and just ruler, or they could have been a unfair and unjust ruler. Most of the monarchs at the time were cruel, greedy, and unfair, most believed that they had been picked or chosen by god that they had the divine right to rule over the land which gave then justification to do what ever they wanted (stated in Document 2 : source King James of England).
In European society, the role of the monarchy from 1603 to 1740 varied and fostered change in England, but stayed constant in absolutist countries such as France and Austria. The royal monarchy of France remained unchanged as absolutism continued. Like France, Austria did not have any significant changes as it proceeded to stay absolute. In contrast, England limited their kings and went through different phases of government. France’s sovereign monarchy did not alter due to the continuity of absolutism.
Were enlightenment and absolutism ever suitable? Lonnie Johnson answered that question by stating “[they] may appear incompatible in theory, but they were compatible in practice”. Peter the Great, Maria Theresa and Joseph II were the living proof of Johnson’s affirmation. Enlightened despotism, also known as enlightenment from above, was implemented by these rulers with the main objective of obtaining more power by securing the economic and educational improvement of their subjects. In contrast with Joseph II, Maria Theresa and Peter the Great did not considered themselves enlightened rulers.
How do you think you would feel if you were someone living in an Absolutist Monarchy? Absolutism is the rule of a monarchy that holds complete political power over their kingdom or state. Absolutism began to rise up in popularity at the time of Louis XIV Bourbon of France (r. 1643-1715), as he started the era of Absolutist rule in Western Europe. During the late 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, kings previously used Absolutism in their rule, and all of them had a slightly different approach to their rule. The question remains of how those within the monarchy viewed the absolutist rule.
Leading up to the 16th century, Europe was filled with religious and political conflicts. The Catholic Church’s power and influence faded, which left countries in control of their own destiny. Kings arose in most every European nation and took firm, absolute control of their respective countries. Kings had so much power and influence that this period in time is called the Age of Absolutism. Absolutism was a period of prosperity because of an increase in modernization, Kings making firm decisions behalf of the interest of the state, and the state of acceptance and peace nations were at under the rule of a King.
The Era of Enlightenment was a cultural movement in Europe that favored reason in place of belief. It challenged the accepted views of the time which, in turn, endangered the power of absolute rulers and their system of government. This era influenced a majority of the European population, however, the monarchs of the time did not exemplify those same ideals. Catherine II of Russia’s views on serfs and peasants are a great example of a ruler defying the enlightenment movement. In her “Decree on Serfs” she states that “serfs and peasants...owe their landlords proper submission and absolute obedience in all matters” , essentially saying that serfs of the time should be completely obedient to their masters (Doc. 6).
The image shows the Enlightenment ideas were impacting a crowd of people, especially the third estates. In the late 18th century, people especially third estates began to question and reason of the theories influenced by the Enlightenment. Meanwhile, the Enlightenment before the French Revolution has affected steadily on impact people thinkings with their beliefs of power and rights of human (politics, arts, literature, and science)(Influence of the Enlightenment on the French Revolution). People initiated to open-minded, they admitted the enlightenment ideas were reasonable to their direction, the people started to use enlightenment ideas as a base to change the government system from absolute monarchy to democracy, which all the citizens
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries many kings of many different kingdoms ruled in a different way from each other, but as for the information stated in the documents given it seems like Absolutism was most effective for ruling kingdoms and civilizations back in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Many Rulers during that time period used Absolutism as a form of government to govern their own people. As stated in document one by Niccolo Machiavelli “Any prince,trusting only in their works and having no preparation made, will fall to ruin, for friendships that are bought at a price and not by the greatness and nobility of soul are paid for indeed, but they are not owned and cannot be called upon in in time of need… as men are
It described the rule of eighteenth-century monarchs who, without renouncing their own absolute authority, adopted Enlightenment ideals of rationalism, progress,
The Enlightenment the Enlightenment was the creation of a new framework of ideas about man, society and nature, during the time of European intellectual history, thought and culture that started in the early eighteenth century. Enlightenment was influenced by some key thinkers, for example, Auguste Comte, Max Weber, Emilie Durkheim, and provided many philosophical reasoning during this time. During the period of the Enlightenment, there was a powerful new preoccupation with the social world, which began to be seen as a specific and important realm of human activity. This period was the first time in history that thinkers tried to provide general explanations of the social world. Sociology is the study of human societies and social world
Therefore, they maintained that “reason” was an important element that could free humanity from the religious authoritarianism that was responsible for the death and suffering of many people in religious battles. Enlightenment also served as a period of knowledge, incorporation and education as new information was made available through the invention of encyclopedias. However, Enlightenment elicited mixed reactions from Conservatism, Liberalism, Nationalism, Socialism and