From 1500-1800, many European monarchs practiced absolute monarchy, believing all power within their states rested solely with them. They aimed to control all aspects of society without limitations and asserted rule by divine right, answering only to God, not subjects. Absolute monarchy grew after the Middle Ages as feudalism declined, cities and the middle class rose, colonialism generated wealth, and the church's authority waned amid constant warfare, allowing kings to impose order by increasing their own power.

2.  From 1500 – 1800 many European monarchs (kings &
queens) would claim to rule without limits.
 ABSOLUTE MONARCHS believed that all power within
their state’s boundaries rested in their hands.
 Goal: control every aspect of society from the
economy to religious worship to social gatherings.
 Goal: be free of limitations imposed by the nobility
and by representative bodies such as Parliament.
 DIVINE RIGHT:
 the idea that God created the monarchy and the
monarch acted as God’s representatives on earth
 Monarchs answered only to God, not to his or her
subjects.

3. Power of European monarchs grew increasingly
after Middle Ages due to:
 decline of feudalism
 rise of cities
 growing middle class (usually supported kings b/c
of the monarchy’s support of business)
 colonialism (built wealth of monarchs)
 decline of church authority (Reformation)
 constant state of warfare and upheaval (kings
would impose order by increasing own power)