In the context of Advanced Placement World History, this concept refers to a political system in which a ruler or governing body holds unrestricted power, not subject to regular challenge by any other agency, whether judicial, legislative, religious, economic, or electoral. A prime example is Louis XIV of France, whose reign epitomized the concentration of authority in the monarch, controlling all aspects of governance from lawmaking to religious oversight.
Understanding this form of governance is crucial because it shaped the political landscape of Europe and other regions during the early modern period. It facilitated state building, allowing rulers to centralize resources and project power, both domestically and internationally. Studying this also enables students to understand the causes and consequences of revolutions that sought to limit or overthrow such concentrated power, and how those events impacted the world.
