Absolutism: The Scientific Revolution and Agricultural Revolution - Essay Example

Absolutism, The Scientific Revolution and Agricultural RevolutionAbsolutism, or absolute monarchy, is the granting of ultimate authority to a king or monarch who claimed to rule by divine right. Philosophers in the 1600s believed that God gave people kings to rule over them. Since kings received their power from God, they had absolute power and will answer to no one except God. Kings had the authority when it comes to creating laws and policies, domestic and foreign, imposing tax, pass justice, and control the country’s administrative system.

As it was believed that the king’s power was granted by God, it was assumed that they are governing the people according to the will of God and so it was considered sacrilege to go against the king. During these periods, religious beliefs were highly followed by the people. The church played a significant role in society and politics, commanding an almost total obedience from the populace to its dictates. With the marriage of the church and state during this era, States, like France and Russia, that adopted the absolutist theory of governance became highly powerful.

Absolutism ensured the total subservience of its citizens – following the King without any question or doubt.As power of a country then was measured by gold in state treasuries, enhanced trade from the agricultural revolution could have contributed more to the economy of the state. Faster production from developments brought about by the scientific revolution could have also significantly contributed to a nation’s economic wealth. The combination of higher agricultural input, consolidation of resources, and faster and efficient production would have commanded more external trade and a surplus economy for the state.

With more commodities to trade from agriculture, at a faster and more efficient way of producing them, brought about by scientific innovations, a country would have had a greater economic power over other nations without the technology and knowledge gained from agriculture and science.With an absolute monarch in place, standard methods of production based on innovative technologies and agricultural practices could easily be put in place as a king’s dictate is followed without question. The combination of these three – power, agricultural revolution and scientific discovery, would have greatly strengthened a nation’s power, not only its economy but also in terms of scientific advancements which can be applied in warfare, economy and quality of life.

Work CitedKagan, Donald, Steve Ozment and Frank M. Turner. Western Heritage 10th edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 27 June 2009. Web. 9 November 2012.