Absolutism and the State in European Civilization, 1648-1945 - Lecture 2

Explore the rise of absolutism in Europe during the 17th century in this 45-minute lecture from Yale University's European Civilization course. Examine how the religious wars and the Thirty Years' War led to the consolidation of state power under all-powerful monarchs. Discover the consequences of this shift, including the formation of large standing armies, bureaucratic systems, and international law. Delve into the reaction against war, the reshaping of government structures, and the role of nobles and bureaucrats in absolute states. Analyze how absolutism was represented in art and literature of the period. Gain insights into this pivotal era of European history that laid the foundations for modern state systems.

- Chapter 1. The Rise of Absolutism in the Continental States of Europe .
- Chapter 2. Reaction against War: Absolutism as Reassertion of Order .
- Chapter 3. The Shape of Government in an Absolute State: Nobles and Bureaucrats .
- Chapter 4. The Arm of the Absolute State: The Rise of Large Standing Armies.
- Chapter 5. Representations of the Absolutism in Art and Literature .