Absolute monarchy In the 18th centur y, absolutism was the form of government in most parts of Europe. Its main feature was that the king or queen was an absolute monarch , meaning they held all the powers of the state: They wrote and enacted laws. They governed . They appointed judges. To exercise their powers, monarchs made use of powerful armies and numerous of ficials. Absolute monarchs considered themselves above the law. They believed that their power came from God and that they were representatives of God on Earth. (4 and 5) However, setting new taxes or passing certain laws had to be approved by representative assemblies. These assemblies had dif ferent names in dif ferent countries: the Estates-General in France or the Cortes in Spain . These institutions represented the powerful groups: the nobility, the clergy and the high bourgeoisie of the most important cities. Absolute monarchs applied mercantilism. According to this economic theory, a country's wealth was based on the amount of gold and silver it possessed. To increase wealth, they encouraged the growth of national industries, promoted exports and restricted imports. 2. Different political systems Classify the texts. Are they legal texts, personal texts, memoirs, etc.? Who wrote them and when? Identify the main ideas in each text and compare one with the other. Relate these to the systems of government that existed at the time. Describe the effects that each document had. How to do it Compare absolutism and parliamentarism using historical texts B E A H I S T O R I A N Speech by Louis XV to the Paris Parliament (3rd March 1766) Sovereign power resides in my person only […]; my courts derive their existence and their authority from me alone, and the discharge of that authority, which they exercise in my name only, always remains with me and can never be employed against me. Independent and undivided legislative power belongs to me alone. It is only by my authority that the of ficers of my courts proceed , […] in the registration , publication and execution of laws. Public order emanates from me, and the rights and interests of the nation […] rest only in my hands. (Adapted) 4. Empress Catherine the Great of Russia was one of the great absolute monarchs of Europe in the 18th century. 5. Louis XV, king of France 16
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