feudalism was based on the holding of land. people were loyal to lords. though people in a similar...
TRANSCRIPT
Feudalismwas based onthe holding of
land. People wereloyal to lords.
Though people ina similar regionspoke the same
language, they didnot think of
themselves asEnglish or French.
It was not until the idea of nationalismdeveloped that people began to think
of themselves as members of a nation-state. With nationalism, people are
loyal to their country or nation. Nationalismbegan in the eleventh century when
England became a nation.
Absolute monarchsor kings and queens
with completepower eventuallydestroyed the oldfeudal system and
took completecontrol over their
subjects. A centralgovernment replacedthe powerful lords of
the Middle Ages.
It is important to remember that thefeudal system was decentralized
because there were many powerful lords,each with his own rules.
A centralized government is morestable because law and order comes
from one person or one group of people.
Absolute monarchsseized absolutecontrol of everyaspect of life in their respectivecountries. Theyeven took poweraway from the
Roman CatholicChurch.
Queen Elizabeth I of England wasan absolute monarch.
Peter the Great, theTsar of Russia,
and King Louis XIVof France were alsoabsolute monarchs.
During theMiddle Ages,
the Popehad been the
strongest authority
in WesternEurope.
Under absolutism,monarchs or kings
challenged the pope’s politicalpower, wealth,
and land.
Absolute monarchs believed thattheir power came from God. They
believed that their decisions could not bequestioned.
They believed in Divine Right Theory.Divine Right Theory was the beliefthat a monarch’s power came from
God.
Absolutemonarchsfrequentlycame into
conflictwith one
another asthey soughtto expand
their territory
As one absolute ruler said, “I amthe state.” With absolutism andthe 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?