Absolutismo e Mercantilismo (resumo) | História

Absolutism was a political system in which a single ruler, usually a king or queen, held absolute power over the state and its citizens. In this system, the monarch had complete authority and was not accountable to any other body or institution. Absolutism was prevalent in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries, characterized by a centralized government, control over the economy, its own armies, and a strong social hierarchy. The monarch ruled based on the idea of the "divine right of kings," claiming that their authority came directly from God. Absolutism was a political and administrative system that prevailed in European countries between the 16th and 18th centuries. Let's simplify: Centralization of Power: In Absolutism, the sovereign (usually a king or queen) concentrated all the powers of the state in their hands. They were not accountable to society or subject to legislative or judicial bodies. Important Theorists: Niccolo Machiavelli: He advocated for strong sovereigns, capable of ensuring their success and continuity in power. Thomas Hobbes: Believed that men joined together in a social contract to escape war and barbarism, assigning power to a leader to protect them. Jean Bodin: Associated the state with a family, where royal power was unlimited, as the head of the family. Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet: Defended the "divine right of kings," asserting that power was given by God to the sovereign. Characteristics of the Absolutist State: Centralization: The king administered with the help of ministers, establishing uniform monetary and fiscal standards for the entire kingdom. Civil Bureaucracy: The central government handled the minting of coins, road security, and chose a single language for the entire territory. Absolutism was overthrown by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, which sought to limit the absolute power of monarchs. AZEVEDO, Gislane; SERIACOPI, Reinaldo. History: Past and Present. 1st ed. São Paulo: Attica, 2016. (BOOK 2)