Projeto: Building the Absolutist Kingdom

Contextualization

The absolutist monarchies emerged in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries and played a crucial role in shaping the modern world. At a critical time after the crises of the 14th century and the changes brought about by the Renaissance, the absolutist monarchies emerged as a way to ensure stability and centralization of power in the hands of a single monarch. This period witnessed a significant transformation in the ways of governing, with kings consolidating their power in an absolute manner, controlling economic, political, legal, and religious aspects of society.

Monarchic absolutism was mainly characterized by the centralization of power in the figure of the king. It was the king who created the laws, determined justice, and controlled the economy. The theory of the divine right of kings was an essential element for the maintenance of absolutism. According to it, the king was chosen by God to rule, and therefore his decisions could not be questioned. This concept, although distant from our current democratic reality, was fundamental to structuring the political system of several nations.

The impact of absolutism extends beyond European borders. It was during this period that the great navigations, driven by the European monarchies, resulted in the so-called "discovery" of America and established the first colonies in Africa and Asia. Maritime expansion paved the way for a new economic model, mercantilism, which aimed to accumulate wealth for the crown through control of international trade.

Importance

The absolutist monarchies were fundamental in shaping the world as we know it today. It is in absolutism that we see the beginning of the formation of nation-states, with defined borders and a centralized power structure. Furthermore, maritime expansion and the colonization of new lands during this period established the dynamics of global power that lasted for centuries.

Understanding absolutism is essential for understanding the historical roots of many social, political, and economic conflicts that unfold to this day. Issues such as colonial legacy, concentration of power, struggles for freedom and equality, the formation of nations, and the creation of national identities are immensely influenced by the events, characters, and structures of the absolutist period.

Practical Activity: "Building the Absolutist Kingdom"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to deepen the knowledge about absolutist monarchies, with a focus on understanding the characteristics, reasons for the centralization of power, the action of Europeans and their mercantile logic, as well as the reasons for the transition from mercantilism to capitalism.

Students will have to research, analyze, and present a historical account of an absolutist monarchy of their choice, identifying the elements that characterize absolutism and the action of these kingdoms in maritime expansion and in the establishment of capitalism.

This project will be carried out in groups of 3 to 5 students and will last for one month. Each student should dedicate five to ten hours to this project.

Detailed Project Description

Students will have to select an absolutist monarchy from history (e.g., France, Spain, Portugal, England, etc.) and produce a detailed presentation on that absolutist monarchy, highlighting its main kings, laws, and policies that demonstrate the centralization of power, accounts of mercantilist actions and logics, dominance in the Atlantic world, and the transition from mercantilism to capitalism.

The presentation may be in the form of a video, play, slide presentation, or any other format that the students prefer.

Required Materials

• Textbooks, encyclopedias, and other study materials on the history of the absolutist monarchy.
• Computers with Internet access for research and creating the presentation.
• Camera or smartphone for video recording (optional).
• Various materials for scenery and costumes, if they choose to do a play (optional).

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for the Activity

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group should choose an absolutist monarchy to research.
3. Conduct a detailed research on the chosen absolutist monarchy, focusing on the key elements mentioned in the project objective.
4. Gather the information found and organize it in a coherent and informative manner.
5. Choose a format for the project presentation (it can be video, play, slides, etc.).
6. Create the presentation according to the chosen format.
7. Students should submit a written report along with the presentation, following the structure: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and References.

Project Delivery

At the end of the project, each group must submit:

1. Presentation: A presentation on the chosen absolutist monarchy, in the format chosen by the group.

2. Report: The report should follow the following structure:

   • Introduction: Contextualize the chosen absolutist monarchy, its relevance, and application in the real world, as well as the objective of this project.
   • Development: Detail the theory behind absolutism, explain the activity carried out, the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the results obtained.
   • Conclusions: Summarize the main points, explain the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn about the project.
   • References: Indicate the sources they used to work on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

3. Give the presentation to the class (or teacher, depending on the situation).

The project will provide students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the absolutist monarchy, develop research, analysis, and presentation skills, as well as socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem solving, creative thinking, and proactivity.