This doctrine discouraged rebellion and sacralized the state. Historical Context and the Collapse of Feudal Authority Before the emergence of absolute rule, medieval Europe was characterized by feudalism, a decentralized system where power was fragmented among local lords and the Church.
How Geography and Technology Shaped Absolute Monarchies
The advent of gunpowder, cannons, and professional standing armies rendered the medieval knight and the feudal levy obsolete. The political theorists of the Enlightenment, while often critical of dogma, also provided intellectual fuel for centralization.
The Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses demonstrated the weakness of relying on feudal levies and the instability this caused. Administrative Centralization and Bureaucratic Growth.
How Geography and Technology Shaped Absolute Monarchies
The concept of the "Divine Right of Kings," most famously articulated by theorists like Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, posited that monarchs were appointed by God and accountable only to Him. Ideological and Religious Drivers To legitimize their unprecedented authority, absolute monarchs actively cultivated ideological frameworks that framed their rule as divinely ordained.
More About What factors led to the rise of absolute monarchies
Looking at What factors led to the rise of absolute monarchies from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on What factors led to the rise of absolute monarchies can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
