Absolute Monarchies

Louis XIV
King of France 1638-1715

During the 1500s and 1600s, the monarchs in several European nations attempted to consolidate their own political and social power. Their countries became absolute monarchies, or governments in which all of the political power is held by one individual. In this topic, you will examine the absolute monarchies that developed in countries like France, Prussia, and Russia during this time period.

Essential Questions

• Who were the absolute monarchs?
• What effect did the absolute monarchs have on their countries?