Absolutismo e Mercantilismo (resumo) | História

Summary

The transcript covers the evolution of political organization in medieval Europe, where power fragmented among feudal lords, with kings holding symbolic authority. Over time, monarchs centralized power, weakening feudal lords and the Church, leading to the rise of absolute monarchies. The script explores key political thinkers like Machiavelli, Bodin, Hobbes, and Bossuet, each advocating for strong centralized power. It also delves into the economic policies of mercantilism, the rise of the modern state, and the development of absolutism in France and England, culminating in the Glorious Revolution, which established constitutional monarchy in England.

Takeaways

• 😀 Feudalism fragmented power in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, with local lords controlling justice on their lands and kings holding symbolic authority.
• 😀 From the late Middle Ages, European kings began centralizing power, weakening the authority of feudal lords and the Church, leading to the rise of national monarchies.
• 😀 Economic crises, religious wars, and territorial disputes in Europe led political thinkers to argue for a centralized government to restore order.
• 😀 Theories of absolutism were developed by political philosophers like Niccolò Machiavelli, Jean Bodin, Thomas Hobbes, and Jacques Bossuet, each advocating for strong centralized authority.
• 😀 Machiavelli, in his work 'The Prince,' argued for a powerful monarch willing to take necessary actions, even against ethics, to ensure political stability.
• 😀 Jean Bodin emphasized the divine right of kings, with sovereignty being granted directly by God, making the king's power absolute.
• 😀 Thomas Hobbes, in 'Leviathan,' proposed a social contract where individuals surrender freedoms to a powerful ruler to ensure security and peace.
• 😀 Jacques Bossuet defended the divine right of kings, claiming that monarchs were chosen by God and were above all earthly authority, except for God's judgment.
• 😀 The growth of centralized power led to the formation of the Modern State, with the legal system transitioning from feudal law to Roman-inspired laws.
• 😀 The development of mercantilist economic policies aimed at accumulating precious metals, controlling trade, and protecting domestic markets, which supported the growth of national power.

Q & A

What was the political structure in most of Western Europe during the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, the political power in most of Western Europe was fragmented, with feudal lords administering justice on their own lands, while the authority of kings was largely symbolic.

How did European kings begin to centralize power in the late Middle Ages?

In the late Middle Ages, European kings started to implement mechanisms to centralize power, weakening the authority of feudal lords and the Church, leading to the formation of national monarchies.

What were some of the economic crises Europe faced between the 15th and 16th centuries?

Europe faced economic crises including a stagnation in agricultural production compared to population growth, rising food prices, famines, and popular revolts.

What were the political theories that emerged in response to these crises?

In response to these crises, political thinkers argued that a strong, centralized government was necessary to maintain order, leading to the development of absolutist theories.

What did Niccolò Machiavelli advocate in his work 'The Prince'?

Niccolò Machiavelli, in his work 'The Prince,' advocated for the concentration of power in the hands of a strong monarch, emphasizing that rulers should do whatever is necessary, even if it involves unethical actions, to achieve positive outcomes.

How did Jean Bodin define sovereignty in his work 'Six Books of the Republic'?

Jean Bodin defined sovereignty as the absolute power of the king to create and annul laws, which he believed came directly from God.

What was Thomas Hobbes' view on society in his work 'Leviathan'?

Thomas Hobbes believed that in a society without a state, people would be in constant conflict for survival. He argued for a social contract where individuals give up certain freedoms to a powerful government in exchange for security and peace.

How did Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet justify the absolute power of monarchs?

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet justified the absolute power of monarchs by claiming that the king's authority was divinely ordained, meaning that the king was predestined by God to rule and was above all earthly authority.

What were some key economic practices in mercantilism during the absolutist period?

Mercantilism involved practices such as accumulating precious metals like gold and silver, maintaining a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than importing, government intervention in the economy, and colonialism to increase wealth.

What led to the establishment of constitutional monarchy in England after the Glorious Revolution?

After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the English monarchy became constitutional when William III and Mary II ascended to the throne and agreed to respect parliamentary powers, limiting the monarchy's authority through the Bill of Rights.