HIS244H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Economic Reconstruction, Toleration, Protestantism
Document Summary
System of government where all members of society are loyal to the king, who has absolute power. Strong, ambitious dynasties who add to their dynasty through advantageous marriage, inheritance, warfare, and treaties. Extension of authority by expanding state structure, for example, reformatting of italian city-states. Lived through the turmoils of the english civil war. Absolutism was a necessity, would avoid a state of nature from occurring; state of nature was a war of all against all. Only an absolute ruler would prevent life from being solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short. Citizens gave up parts of their rights in order to be protected by the state - social contract. Royal authority is sacred - authority is given by god. Royal authority is paternal - must look after people. Royal authority is absolute - people must be obeyed. Royal authority is ruled by reason - monarch must do their based using reason.
