Absolutism - European Nations

Aim: How did Absolute Monarchs justify their rule?

Do Now: Absolutism Worksheet

Lesson Overview:

Item	Approx Time
Do Now	3-5 Min
Mini Lesson	15-20 Min
Activity	15 Min
Discussion	5-7 Min

The Rise of the Absolute Monarchy

The rise of absolute monarchies dates back to the seventeenth (1600s) and eighteenth centuries (1700s), when several monarchs in western and eastern Europe increased the power of their central governments. In doing so, these kings, emperors, or sultans secured their position as the supreme ruler and possessor of all power. They surrounded themselves with followers and advisors who were strong advocates of royal absolutism. For those that opposed their behavior and seizure of power they replied that they had been granted the divine right of kings.

The Divine Right of Kings

A doctrine in defense of monarchical absolutism, which asserted that kings derived their authority from God and could not therefore be held accountable for their actions by any earthly authority such as a parliament. Originating in Europe, the divine-right theory can be traced to the medieval conception of God’s award of temporal power to the political ruler, paralleling the award of spiritual power to the church. By the 16th and 17th centuries, however, the new national monarchs were asserting their authority in matters of both church and state. The theory claimed that kings were answerable only to God and it was therefore sinful for their subjects to resist them. This idea exploded throughout Europe during the Age of Absolutism.

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: The Rise of Absolute Monarchies

Lesson Activity: Absolutism in European Nations

Homework: Assignments