Glossary
Absolute monarchs
Rulers who possess total and unchecked power, often claiming their authority comes directly from God.
Example:
Absolute monarchs like Peter the Great sought to centralize all power, often at the expense of the nobility.
Absolutism
A political system where a single ruler, typically a monarch, holds complete and unrestricted power over the state and its people.
Example:
During the reign of Louis XIV, France exemplified Absolutism, with the king's will being the ultimate law of the land.
Agrarian
Relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land; describes societies or economies primarily based on farming.
Example:
Most European economies during the Age of Absolutism were predominantly agrarian, with wealth and power tied to land ownership.
Capitalist
An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market.
Example:
The Dutch Republic, with its powerful merchant class and extensive global trade, was an early example of a more capitalist economy.
Centralized (power)
The concentration of power and authority in a single governing body or individual, rather than being distributed among various entities.
Example:
Louis XIV's goal was to completely centralize power in the monarchy, reducing the influence of regional nobles and parliaments.
Checks and balances
A system in which different branches of government have powers that can prevent the actions of other branches, ensuring no single branch becomes too powerful.
Example:
The English constitutional monarchy, with power shared between the monarch and Parliament, began to develop a system of checks and balances.
Church and state
Refers to the relationship between religious institutions and the governing political authority.
Example:
The separation of church and state became a key principle in many constitutional governments, promoting religious freedom.
Constitutionalism
A political system where the power of the government, especially the monarch, is limited by a constitution or a set of laws and customs.
Example:
Following the Glorious Revolution, England moved towards Constitutionalism, establishing a system where the monarch's power was shared with Parliament.
Constitutions
Written or unwritten bodies of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Example:
The English Bill of Rights served as a foundational element of England's unwritten constitution, outlining the limits of royal power.
Divine right
The belief that a monarch's authority to rule comes directly from God, making them accountable only to God, not to their subjects or any earthly institution.
Example:
King James I of England strongly advocated for the divine right of kings, believing his power was sacred and unquestionable.
Egalitarian society
A society characterized by belief in or the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
Example:
Enlightenment ideals fostered the vision of a more egalitarian society, where birthright would matter less than individual merit.
Individual rights
Fundamental freedoms and entitlements that belong to every person, often protected by law and considered inherent to human dignity.
Example:
John Locke's philosophy heavily influenced the concept of individual rights, arguing that people possessed inherent rights to life, liberty, and property.
John Locke
An influential English Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas on natural rights, the social contract, and limited government profoundly influenced constitutionalism and democratic thought.
Example:
John Locke's concept of government by consent of the governed was foundational to the Glorious Revolution and later revolutions.
Louis XIV
The 'Sun King' of France, who reigned from 1643 to 1715, epitomizing absolute monarchy and famously declaring 'L'état, c'est moi' ('I am the state').
Example:
Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles as a symbol of his absolute power and to control the French nobility.
Mercantilism
An economic theory and practice dominant in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century that promoted governmental regulation of a nation's economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers.
Example:
France under Louis XIV practiced Mercantilism, aiming to accumulate wealth through strict control over trade, high tariffs, and colonial exploitation.
Middle class
A social class composed of merchants, bankers, professionals, and skilled artisans, whose economic standing was based on commerce and industry rather than inherited land or noble titles.
Example:
The growth of trade and manufacturing during the Age of Constitutionalism led to the expansion and increasing influence of the middle class.
Montesquieu
A French Enlightenment philosopher known for his theory of the separation of powers, advocating for distinct branches of government to prevent tyranny.
Example:
Montesquieu's ideas on the division of governmental authority into legislative, executive, and judicial branches influenced the design of many constitutional systems.
Natural rights
Inherent rights possessed by all individuals from birth, typically including life, liberty, and property, which governments cannot legitimately take away.
Example:
Enlightenment thinkers like Locke argued that governments were obligated to protect the natural rights of their citizens.
Philip II
King of Spain during the late 16th century, known for his devout Catholicism, vast empire, and efforts to consolidate absolute power and defend the Catholic faith.
Example:
Philip II used the Spanish Inquisition to enforce religious and political conformity throughout his vast empire.
Representative government
A system where citizens elect officials to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf in a legislative body.
Example:
The rise of Parliament's power in England signaled a move towards representative government, giving more voice to different segments of society.
Social hierarchy
A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
Example:
Under absolutism, a rigid social hierarchy placed the monarch at the apex, followed by the nobility, clergy, and then the vast commoner class.
State (in relation to religion)
Refers to the government or political entity, particularly in its relationship with religious institutions and practices.
Example:
Under absolutism, the state often used religion to legitimize its rule and suppress dissent, leading to religious uniformity.
William of Orange
Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic who, along with his wife Mary II, became co-monarch of England after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, establishing a constitutional monarchy.
Example:
The invitation to William of Orange to take the English throne marked a pivotal moment in the shift from absolutism to constitutionalism in England.