Key Concepts in Early Modern European History and Political Thought

Defining Key Political and Economic Systems

Core Definitions of the Early Modern Era

The transition into the Early Modern period saw the rise of several defining political and economic concepts:

Absolutism

Absolutism is a form of government in which ruling power is not subject to any institutional constraint that is not divine law.

The Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie is the class composed mainly of merchants and artisans who moved from the countryside to the city.

Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system characterized by powerful relationships that often reduce workers to a state of being less self-employed, denying the value and dignity of their labor, while prioritizing the growth of markets and profits.

Mercantilism

Mercantilism is a set of economic ideas developed during the 16th, 17th, and part of the 18th century. It posits that the prosperity of a nation or state depends primarily on the accumulation of capital (bullion).

Socialism

Socialism refers to the set of theories and political actions advocating for a political and economic system that prioritizes the socialization of production, as well as state control of the economy, either in whole or in part.

Imperialism

Imperialism is an attitude or policy adopted by a state seeking to extend its power or influence over other states or communities.

The Historical Context of Absolutism

Absolutism was a political and administrative system adopted by some European states, wherein the monarch ruled arbitrarily. It emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries following clashes involving the nobility and the bourgeoisie. Monarchs used this period to unite and strengthen their states.

Absolutism was particularly strong in the 17th and 18th centuries, dominating most European states, with notable exceptions being the Netherlands and England. Its peak is often associated with King Louis XIV, starting in 1661.

Proponents of Absolutism

Key proponents of this doctrine included:

• Jean Bodin
• Thomas Hobbes
• Jacques Bossuet

Interestingly, much of the criticism Absolutism received sometimes originated from its own defenders.

Dutch Independence and the Eighty Years' War

The Twelve Years' Truce, also known as the Truce of Antwerp, was a peace treaty signed in 1609 between Spain and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. This treaty marked a peaceful break in the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), which the Netherlands waged against the Spanish Empire to gain its independence.

Foundational Thinkers of the Enlightenment

John Locke

Locke was one of the most influential thinkers on the European continent. He wrote:

• An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
• Two Treatises of Government (which defends the inherent rights of all men to property, liberty, and equality)

Montesquieu

He was one of the most prominent representatives of the Enlightenment. He wrote The Spirit of the Laws, in which he argued that to avoid despotism, it was necessary to establish the separation of powers:

1. The Executive (represented by the King)
2. The Legislature (Parliament)
3. The Judiciary (the courts)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau wrote two major works:

• On education: Émile
• On politics: The Social Contract

In The Social Contract, he famously states that "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," arguing that society deprives man of his natural liberty.