The Age of Absolutism

The Age of Absolutism, roughly from the 17th to the 18th centuries, was a period when monarchs centralized power, claiming they ruled by divine right, meaning their authority came directly from God. Kings and queens, such as Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia, sought to expand their control over every aspect of government and society. This era saw the development of strong centralized states, increased military power, and the decline of feudalism. It significantly shaped modern governance and the relationship between rulers and their subjects, laying the groundwork for later political transformations.