Absolutism
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | Western World History 30 - RVS |
| Book: | Absolutism |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Thursday, 18 September 2025, 3:07 AM |
Introduction
Upon completion of this lesson project the student will be able to:
- identify how absolute leaders were able to maintain control over their subjects
- evaluate the influence of the Renaissance and Reformation on the institution of absolutism
Absolutism is defined as rule by one person - a monarch, usually a king or a queen - whose actions are restricted neither by written law nor by custom.
The Age of Absolutism describes a period of European history in which monarchs successfully gathered the wealth and power of the state to themselves. Louis XIV is the poster image of the absolute monarch. When he said "L'etat c'est moi" (I am the state) he was to a great extent correct. France was powerful and prosperous and represented that which all European monarchs aspired to.
Assignment - Foundations of Absolutism
Total - 50 marks
Research
Start by watching the following videos:
The Foundations of Absolutism
Dictators of the 20th Century
Organize
For this particular assignment, you will prepare an analysis of the “timeless” aspects of absolute rule. (absolute rule has occurred throughout various times in history).
You will compare ONE 16th/17th century absolute ruler and ONE modern day (20th/21st century) political dictator and present the following:
- each ruler's background leading up to their rise to power
- the qualities and tactics each ruler used to establish and maintain absolute rule
- compare the similarities and differences between each ruler's style of control
*NOTE: The Pope is NOT a political dictator, therefore you can not choose the pope.
Click on the following link for a list of Absolute Rulers.
Presentation
Include the following information in your TWO to THREE page visual presentation:
Page One - Absolute Ruler #1
Page Two - Absolute Ruler #2
Page Three - Concluding paragraph and bibliography
- background information on each ruler.
- description comparing the character qualities and/or tactics your two absolute rulers use(d) to establish and maintain control. You should identify at least 1-2 shared qualities and/or tactics.
- Conclusion – in one or two paragraphs, discuss the connections/similarities between the different ruler's style of 'leadership'.
You may use charts, graphs, graphics, etc. to help with your presentation, if you like.
The slide show must have both text and graphics (2 slides).
NOTE: If you wish to complete this exercise differently, please email me with your suggestion.
Be sure to use primary sources and credit all sources in a properly formatted bibliography attached to the finished project (see Course Introduction)
Checklist
Click on the checklist link TO BE SURE YOU HAVE COMPLETED EVERYTHING.
How to Create a Bibliography
Bibliography Format:
When assembling a final bibliography, list all sources (texts, articles, interviews, videotapes, and so on) in alphabetical order by authors' last names.
Here are suggested citation formats:
Online Resources
World Wide Web:
URL (Uniform Resource Locator or WWW address): author (or item's name,
if mentioned), date.
EXAMPLE: (Boston Globe's www address)
http://www.boston.com.
Today's News, August 1, 1996.
Internet:
Author of message. (Date) Subject of message. Electronic conference or
bulletin board (Online). Available e-mail: LISTSERV@ e-mail address
EXAMPLE: Ellen Block, (September 15, 1995). New Winners. Teen Booklist
(Online). Helen Smith@wellington.com
For a book:
Author (last name first), Title of the book. City: Publisher, Date of publication.
EXAMPLE: Dahl, Roald. The BFG. New York. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1982.
For an encyclopedia:
Encyclopedia Title, Edition Date. Volume Number. Article Title in Quotations,
page numbers.
EXAMPLE: The Encyclopedia Brittanica, Volume 7, "Gorillas," pages 50-51.
For a magazine:
Author (last name first), "Article Title." Name of magazine. Volume number,
(Date): page numbers.
EXAMPLE: Jordan, Jennifer, "Filming at the Top of the World." Museum of
Science Magazine. Volume 47, No. 1, (Winter 1998): page 11.
For a newspaper:
Author (last name first), "Article Title." Name of newspaper, city and state of
publication. (date): edition if available, section and page number(s).
EXAMPLE: Powers, Ann, "New Tune for the Material Girl." The New York
Times, New York, NY. (3/1/98): Atlantic Region, Section 2, page 34.
For a person:
Full name (last name first), Occupation, Date of interview.
EXAMPLE: Smeckleburg, Sweets. Bus driver. April 1, 1996.
For a film:
Title, Director, Distributor, Year.
EXAMPLE: Braveheart, Dir. Mel Gibson, Icon Productions, 1995
CD-ROM:
Disc title: Version, Date. "Article title," pages if given. Publisher.
EXAMPLE: Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia: Macintosh version, 1995.
"Civil rights movement," p.3. Compton's Newsmedia.
Magazine article:
Author (last name first). "Article title," Name of magazine (type of medium).
Volume number, (Date): page numbers. If available: publisher of medium,
version, date of issue.
EXAMPLE: Rollins, Fred. "Snowboard Madness." Sports Stuff (CD-ROM).
Number 15, (February 1997); pp. 15-19. If available: SIRS, Mac,. version,
Winter 1997.
Newspaper article:
Author (last name first). "Article title." Name of newspaper (Type of
medium), city and state of publication. (Date): Edition if available, section
and page number(s). Available: publisher of medium, version, date of issue.
EXAMPLE: Stevenson, Rhoda. "Nerve Sells." Community News, (CD-ROM),
Nassau, NY. (Feb 1996): pp. A4-5. Available: SIRS, Mac. version, Spring
1996.
Evaluation and Submission
Evaluation
RUBRIC
- Content - include the following:
- detailed info on topic/leaders and aspect(s) of absolute rule that is 'timeless' (recurring).
- character qualities and/or tactics your absolute rulers use(d) to establish control. (provide examples/statistics)
(at least 1-2 shared qualities and/or tactics). - Include images of each ruler.
- Conclusion – in paragraph format, evaluate the effectiveness of absolute rule.
Content/presentation (accuracy, detail, relevant graphics) /40
Mechanics/Bibliography (spelling, grammar, 3+ sources) /10
Total - /50
Submit your assignment
Post your completed assignment in the 4 absolute rulers Assignment Folder.
Label it 4_Absolutism_yourlastname