Feudalism
was based on
the holding of
land. People were
loyal to lords.
Though people in
a similar region
spoke the same
language, they did
not think of
themselves as
English or French.
It was not until the idea of nationalism
developed that people began to think
of themselves as members of a nationstate. With nationalism, people are
loyal to their country or nation. Nationalism
began in the eleventh century when
England became a nation.
Absolute monarchs
or kings and queens
with complete
power eventually
destroyed the old
feudal system and
took complete
control over their
subjects. A central
government replaced
the powerful lords of
the Middle Ages.
It is important to remember that the
feudal system was decentralized
because there were many powerful lords,
each with his own rules.
A centralized government is more
stable because law and order comes
from one person or one group of people.
Absolute monarchs
seized absolute
control of every
aspect of life in
their respective
countries. They
even took power
away from the
Roman Catholic
Church.
Queen Elizabeth I of England was
an absolute monarch.
Peter the Great, the
Tsar of Russia,
and King Louis XIV
of France were also
absolute monarchs.
During the
Middle Ages,
the Pope
had been the
strongest
authority
in Western
Europe.
Under absolutism,
monarchs or kings
challenged the
pope’s political
power, wealth,
and land.
Absolute monarchs believed that
their power came from God. They
believed that their decisions could not be
questioned.
They believed in Divine Right Theory.
Divine Right Theory was the belief
that a monarch’s power came from
God.
Absolute
monarchs
frequently
came into
conflict
with one
another as
they sought
to expand
their territory
As one absolute ruler said, “I am
the state.” With absolutism and
the rise of nation-states, a new
era in world history began.
As the era of the feudal knight
ended, the rise of the national
army began.
Questions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
How did nationalism differ from feudalism?
Define absolutism.
Provide examples of absolute monarchs.
How did absolute monarchs govern?
Define Divine Right Theory.
Why did absolutism and divine right theory
encourage the rise of nation-states?
• Why is a centralized government stable?