We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

DBQ on Absolutism

essay
The whole doc is available only for registered users

A limited time offer! Get a custom sample essay written according to your requirements urgent 3h delivery guaranteed

Order Now

European monarchs in the seventeenth and eighteenth century viewed themselves as absolute rulers, or kings and queens that believed that they controlled everything within their state’s borders. The people that were ruled by the absolute rulers believed absolutism had a different aspect than was being used by the kings and queens. This practice is known as absolutism. The people that were being ruled and the ruler or absolute monarch viewed the role of the absolute ruler differently.

As document number one states, Frederick II of Prussia said, “The sovereign stands to his people in the same relation in which the head stands to the body.” This quote means that absolute ruler, Frederick II of Prussia, believed that the absolute ruler was the head or leader of the group of people he ruled. This means that he believed that the absolute ruler was the one making the decisions like the head of the body and the people would be following like the rest of the body. This stands for the way he views absolutism should be practiced.

As document 3 says, St. John Bayle stated that King Louis XIV “took great pains to be well-informed of all that passed everywhere; in public places, in the private houses, in society and familiar intercourse. His spies and tell-tattlers were infinite.” This quote defies the character of Louis XIV as a spy to his people. This meant that he could not trust any of his people do anything without his knowledge or consent. He believed that absolute rulers had the power to not only tell the people what to do, but also had to tell him what they were doing. If not tell him, he would still know.

As document 4 determines, the nobles that were ruled by the absolute rulers did not like the way they were treated. As the report of the Commission of Enquiry states, the peasants believed that the absolute monarchs were destroying the empire and countries by taxing the peasants and keeping them on leashes. The kingdoms were falling due to its base, which are the peasants since the entire kingdom is built on their foundation. They are the ones that pay the taxes and work for the higher classmen. The absolute rulers tax them and the kingdoms foundation crumbles due to this.

As document 6 points out, the people, in this case Russians, are enslaved and worked as animals on a farm. They do not complain out of the respect and love to their masters. Yet, there are people that believe that the absolute rulers do not have the power and authority to control their native people in such manners. They do not have the right to overwork their people and not pay them or feed them. Many peasants and people believe that that sort of actions should not be allowed and the absolute monarch should not perform these actions on his own people.

The above documents and arguments lead to one and only one conclusion. That conclusion is that absolute rulers or absolute monarchs and their subjects or people view the proper role of an absolute monarch very differently. The absolute rulers believe that they are allowed to do anything they please because of the fact that they are absolute rulers and the people believe that the absolute rulers have to be limited.

Related Topics

We can write a custom essay

According to Your Specific Requirements

Order an essay
icon
300+
Materials Daily
icon
100,000+ Subjects
2000+ Topics
icon
Free Plagiarism
Checker
icon
All Materials
are Cataloged Well

Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email.

By clicking "SEND", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.
Sorry, but only registered users have full access

How about getting this access
immediately?

Your Answer Is Very Helpful For Us
Thank You A Lot!

logo

Emma Taylor

online

Hi there!
Would you like to get such a paper?
How about getting a customized one?

Can't find What you were Looking for?

Get access to our huge, continuously updated knowledge base

The next update will be in:
14 : 59 : 59