Unit 14: The Age of Absolutism in Europe (1600s-1700s)

Unit 14: The Age of Absolutism in Europe (1600s-1700s)

This unit emphasizes how the autocratic rule of European monarchies contributed to political reform in Europe.

The Age of Absolutism was the period around the 17th and 18th centuries when Europe (kind of) was ruled by very powerful monarchs. Monarchs with absolute control. Thus, the Age of Absolutism.

Absolute monarchs were rulers who held all the power in a country. Under their rule there were no checks and balances on their power, and there were no other governing bodies they shared the power with. These monarchs also ruled by divine right or the belief that their power came from God. To oppose them was to oppose God.

Hopefully you noticed our “kind of”disclaimer next to the word Europe up there. We put that in there for two reasons. First, despite its name the absolute monarchy system of political control was not necessarily as powerful as the name implies. The system was never uniform nor did it exist without struggle. We will discuss these issues in further detail later in this AP European History Crash Course, but for the purposes of the AP Euro exam always keep in mind that this was still a complex era of political control.

Second, the Age of Absolutism typically refers to Europe roughly around 1550 to 1800. But absolute monarchs have ruled outside of Europe and during different periods in human history. Just think of the Egyptian Pharaohs. They ruled with absolute control and under the belief in a divine right. Again, chances are that the AP European History exam will reference Europe, but the people at the CollegeBoard love it when you understand the complexities behind the terms they are examining you on.

Unit Focus

• factors related to collapse of the monarchy and the rise of the English Commonwealth
• characteristics of the French, Russian, and Austrian monarchies
• causes and results of the Thirty Years’ War