Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism
A ABSOLUTISM VS CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
(THE STATE IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE, 1450-1750)
1. The Dynastic Territorial State (DTS) in Early Modern Europe: Absolutism vs. Constitutional Monarchy.
Early modern Europe – defined approximately as the period between 1450 and 1750 – was a revolutionary era during which political, economic, social, and intellectual upheavals abounded. The late medieval period witnessed political struggles between monarchs and nobles and between church and state. Renaissance ideas and ideals stimulated political debate and furthered conflict between political contenders. The Reformations of the sixteenth century – both Protestant and Catholic – exacerbated political realities as religious movements required monarchs to defend a chosen religious status within their realms as well as to deal with religious issues and choices in adjacent areas. Financing many of the conflicts was an influx of wealth taken from non-European areas during the Age of Exploration and Conquest. This money allowed some monarchs – and encouraged others to attempt – to establish increasingly effective and authoritative central governments. The influx of specie also led to a more relevant middle class, a relatively less powerful upper class, and a price revolution, all of which added to the turmoil.
The best definition of a sovereign state is one that is ruled by an authoritative government and is independent of external control, has the power to pass laws, and preserves order by enforcing those laws. The goal of an early modern monarch was to acquire absolute power within his/her state. The concept of the absolute authority of the state was one of the most prominent Roman influences on Western Civilization. According to this concept, the state can do no wrong and the individual has no rights except those that the state confers upon him or her. Countering this was the medieval legacy which resulted in diversity of many kinds: language, laws, customs,
(THE STATE IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE, 1450-1750)
1. The Dynastic Territorial State (DTS) in Early Modern Europe: Absolutism vs. Constitutional Monarchy.
Early modern Europe – defined approximately as the period between 1450 and 1750 – was a revolutionary era during which political, economic, social, and intellectual upheavals abounded. The late medieval period witnessed political struggles between monarchs and nobles and between church and state. Renaissance ideas and ideals stimulated political debate and furthered conflict between political contenders. The Reformations of the sixteenth century – both Protestant and Catholic – exacerbated political realities as religious movements required monarchs to defend a chosen religious status within their realms as well as to deal with religious issues and choices in adjacent areas. Financing many of the conflicts was an influx of wealth taken from non-European areas during the Age of Exploration and Conquest. This money allowed some monarchs – and encouraged others to attempt – to establish increasingly effective and authoritative central governments. The influx of specie also led to a more relevant middle class, a relatively less powerful upper class, and a price revolution, all of which added to the turmoil.
The best definition of a sovereign state is one that is ruled by an authoritative government and is independent of external control, has the power to pass laws, and preserves order by enforcing those laws. The goal of an early modern monarch was to acquire absolute power within his/her state. The concept of the absolute authority of the state was one of the most prominent Roman influences on Western Civilization. According to this concept, the state can do no wrong and the individual has no rights except those that the state confers upon him or her. Countering this was the medieval legacy which resulted in diversity of many kinds: language, laws, customs,
Links: Colbertism was the French version of mercantilism. Colbert (controller general of the finances from 1662–1683) built up the nation’s exports and curtailed imports, resulting in increased government revenue. F Charles I, 1625–1649: short monarch who became shorter British Civil Wars, Parliamentary Dictatorship, 1649–1660