FROM ABSOLUTISM TO PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY

Louis XIV

Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the monarch exercises authority as head of state and its subject peoples. In an absolute monarchy, the transmission of power is two-fold; hereditary and marital. As absolute governor, the monarch’s authority is not legally bound or restricted by a constitution.

In theory, the absolute monarch exercises total power over the land and its subject peoples, yet in practice the monarchy is counter-balanced by political groups from among the social classes and castes of the realm: the nobility (1st estate),  the clergy (2nd estate) and the bourgueoisie (a group from the 3rd estate).

Some monarchies have powerless or symbolic parliaments and other governmental bodies that the monarch can alter or dissolve at will. 

One of the best proverbial examples of an absolute monarch was Louis XIV of France. His alleged statement, L'État, c'est moi (The state, it is me), summarizes the fundamental principle of absolute monarchy (sovereignity being vested in one individual).
Absolutist monarchies developed into two main branches. On the one hand, the parliamentary monarchy, which  is a form of government in which a monarch  acts as head of state within the parameters of a written constitution.

The Magna Carta

The Magna Carta

(taken from Wikipedia)

ECONOMY IN THE MODERN ERA

Here you have several exercises to practice the economy of the modern era:
Exercise 1
Exercise 2

REVISON EXERCISES ABOUT THE MODERN ERA

Here you have several exercises that, I hope, are going to help you prepare the exam you have to take soon.

Before the Age of Explorations
Causes of the Age of explorations
Consequences of the Age of Explorations
Imperial Spain in the 16th century: Charles I
The Modern Era: Match concepts and definitions (I)
The Modern Era: Match concepts and definitions (II)
The Modern Era: revision of Main concepts

Location of the Spanish Invincible Armada

The battle of Lepanto

THE MODERN ERA: MAIN EVENTS

The Fall of Constantinople, the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, the Spanish conquistadores, Charles I and Philip II, the "asiento de negros", the inquisition, the witch-hunting  (we haven't learned the last two yet)... There are so many events that hapenned in the modern era that analizing them takes us longer than we wished.

Last year, students developed this topic in a different way. Here you have more detailed information and schemas they made about each of the events of the modern era.  THE MODERN ERA IN LASKORAIN

RTVE, The Spanish TV has released a set of interesting docummentaries about this period of time. Although it is in Spanish, it's worth watching it because it's going to give you useful information to understand better the work you have to do.

• Docummentary 1: "America, un nuevo Mundo".
• Docummentary 2: "Carlos V: Un monarca,  un imperio, una espada"
• Docummentary 3: "La España de Felipe II: Un imperio sin emperador" 

  

  Philip II

Charles I (V from Germany)

FurthermoreHere you have some exercises to practise concepts we have seen so far. Useful for the exam you are going to take soon.


Exercise 1 (match pictures and concepts)
Exercise 2 (vocabulary crosswords)
Exercise 3 (concept. Fill in the gaps)
Exercise 4 (match concepts and definitions)
.

THE MODERN ERA: THE EARLY EXPLORATIONS OF THE SEA

We know that Christopher Colombus (his image on the left) was the first man that sailed the Atlantic sea trying to find a new sea route to the Indies.
However, he was not the only sailor exploring the seas. In fact, there was a boom of explorations thanks to the new tools and techniques that made navigation safer and faster.The caravel (a new ship) started to be used. (if you click on the name, a video will display)
The astrolabe and the compass were among others, some instruments that the early explorers used to determine their routes, fixing their position according to the stars. If you want to know a bit more about how they managed, watch this interesting video and read this entrace from the Water Encyclopedia.

maps

Besides, there was a better knowledge of geography thanks to the cartography (the science of map making) and portolans, which gave more accurate information of coasts.

The Caravel

the compass

Here you have some exercises to practise concepts we have seen so far. Useful for the exam you are going to take soon.


Exercise 1 (match pictures and concepts)
Exercise 2 (vocabulary crosswords)
Exercise 3 (concept. Fill in the gaps)
Exercise 4 (match concepts and definitions)

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Liberty

The French Revolution is the next topic we are going to study in DBH 4. It meant such a big change that The Ancién Regime was finished forever. We are going to study the causes for it, the different phases of it and how this important historical period finished with Napoleon.
We are going to have a look at some videos which will help us understand it much better. (we cannot insert them here by express request of their authors)

Execution of the king Louis XVI

Robespierre

Montesquieu

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION in DBH4

These videos may help you understand better what the French Revolution meant, its causes and consequences and what a vital step it was in order to understand nowadays society.


Another example, a bit more simple, but not bad to start: