Nature of power and rule

Nature of Power

The period from 1450-1789 is often referred to as the Early Modern era, a time of significant transformation in the nature of power and rule.
Peripheral authorities, particularly in Western Europe, began to centralise power, leading to the emergence of nation-states where previously there were feudal systems.
This process is often referred to as the move from feudalism to absolutism.

Nation-States, Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Nation-states began to assert more centralised control, which involved diminished power for local lords and increased power for monarchs and central governments.
The term ‘absolutism’ refers to a political system where a ruler has complete authority over the country, unrestricted by laws, constitutions, or opposition.
Absolutist rulers in this period included Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia. They controlled every aspect of their nations’ life, from religion to the economy to the arts.
Some states like England, however, witnessed a transition towards a constitutional monarchy, where the power of the monarch was limited by a constitution. The Bill of Rights in 1689 cemented this change.

Power Structures and Leadership Styles

Religious authorities still held significant power during this period, such as the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church leaders in various European countries.
Commerce and the rising merchant class also began to influence power structures, especially in places like northern Italy and the Low Countries.
Personal leadership styles of rulers differed significantly, ranging from the ‘hands-off’ approach of Queen Elizabeth I, to the controlling and hands-on style of Louis XIV of France.

Religious and Intellectual Changes

The period was also marked by the Protestant Reformation, which created new denominations of Christianity and political changes.
The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment were intellectual movements that challenged the traditional authority of monarchs and the church, leading to philosophical and political changes.
Thinkers of the Enlightenment, such as Voltaire and Locke, advocated for separation of powers, the social contract, and other ideas that challenged traditional absolute rule.

Use these points to structure your revision on the nature of power and rule during the Early Modern states period. Don’t forget to dive deeper into each sub-topic and to familiarise yourself with key historical personalities and specific events.