By the late 16th century, many influential political thinkers as well as princes and their advisors became convinced that absolutism held the only hope for the future. ... Jean Bodin's work 6 Books of the Commonweal 1576 originated a theory of modern sovereignty when he argued that "the first and chief mark of a sovereign prince" - the power upon which other people depend - was that he must be able to make law without consulting anyone else. ... Book received little attention during his lifetime, but ultimately became his most famous work. ... These and other princes and their bureaucr...

• Word Count: 1362
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Since Charles V, backed by the power of Spain, had been unable either to strengthen his authority at the expense of the territorial princes or to wipe out Protestantism, it was understandable that his immediate successors preferred to leave the constitutional and religious issues alone. ... Cordoba and Tilly claimed victory; they were unable to stop the Brunswick prince. ... Supported by Lutheran and Calvinist German princes, Christian mobilized a large army in the spring of 1625 and invaded Saxony. The Protestant expedition encountered little effective resistance until a year later. ...

• Word Count: 2101
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The heir of Louis XIV, Louis XV, was somewhat capable at ruling, yet he did very little to heal the nation because he was too much of a pleasure lover. ... The peasants, who comprised the largest portion of the population, were low in literacy rate and wanted little to do with political matters but sought to free themselves from the ancient requirements of the feudal system and gain relative economic parity. ...

• Word Count: 4395
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate