Absolutism and The Enlightenment

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A concept developed by Montesquieu advocating for the division of government powers into separate branches to prevent tyranny.

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Separation of Powers

Front

A theory by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau that suggests governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed.

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Social Contract

Front

Known as the "Sun King," he is the epitome of an absolute monarch and ruled France for 72 years.

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Louis XIV

Front

A form of government where the monarch holds total power, often justified by the concept of divine right.

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Absolute Monarchy

Front

John Locke's idea that all individuals are born with rights to life, liberty, and property.

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Natural Rights

Front

The belief that monarchs derive their authority from God, making their rule unquestionable

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Divine Right of Kings

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An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

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Enlightenment

Front

The grand palace built by Louis XIV as a symbol of his power and control over the nobility.

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Versailles

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The process by which absolute monarchs consolidated authority, reducing the influence of local nobles and regional powers.

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Centralization of Power

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A prominent Enlightenment thinker who advocated for freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and separation of church and state.

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Voltaire