Fiveable
Fiveable

Rise of Absolutism

Definition

The rise of absolutism refers to a period in European history when nations were governed by absolute monarchies. These rulers had complete power over their countries, with no legal limitations on their authority.

Related terms

Louis XIV: Known as Louis the Great or Sun King, he was a monarch who ruled France with absolute power for over 72 years, longer than any other known sovereign.

Divine Right Theory: The belief that monarchs receive their power directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; often used to justify absolutism.

Versailles Palace: A royal château in Versailles, France built by Louis XIV which served as an opulent symbol of his absolute monarchy.

"Rise of Absolutism" appears in:

Study guides (1)

  • AP European History - 3.1 Context of State Building from 1648-1815

collegeable - rocket pep

Are you a college student?

  • Study guides for the entire semester

  • 200k practice questions

  • Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab


Fiveable
About Us

About Fiveable

Blog

Careers

Code of Conduct

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

CCPA Privacy Policy

Resources

Cram Mode

AP Score Calculators

Study Guides

Practice Quizzes

Glossary

Cram Events

Merch Shop

Crisis Text Line

Help Center

Stay Connected


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

About Us

About Fiveable

Blog

Careers

Code of Conduct

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

CCPA Privacy Policy

Resources

Cram Mode

AP Score Calculators

Study Guides

Practice Quizzes

Glossary

Cram Events

Merch Shop

Crisis Text Line

Help Center

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.