Absolutism starter

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Absolutism

Activity

You have 5 minutes to draw your image of the perfect leader.

You need to include:

The leader

5 items/symbols included in the picture that demonstrate what it is about these leaders that made them perfect

The Theory of Absolutism

European monarchs tried to take the authority to rule without ANY limits.

Goal: to control all aspects of society

Divine right of kings:

 the idea that God created the monarchy and the monarchy acted as God’s representative on earth.

The king answered only to God and not the people

What is an absolute monarch

Explain what the divine right of king is

What is the order of power under the divine right of kings?

1. King-God -People
2. God-King-People
3. God-People- King
4. People-King-God

In the theory of the divine right of kings, to whom is the king accountable for his actions?

1. the people
2. Parliament
3. God
4. No one

 Look at the about 3 meters high and 2 meters wide painting of Louis XIV, painted by Hyacinthe Rigaud  in 1701 on behalf of the king.  Write down your first impressions of the painting.

First impressions

"L'État, c'est moi!"

 Louis XIV  : "L'État, c'est moi!" *- "I am the state!" - what motto could be under the image of today's "ruler"?

*the specific quote seems to have been a later invention to summarize his approach to ruling, rather than something he directly said.

What motto could be under the image of a ruler today?