Louis XIV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Louis XIV - Essay Example Also important was his concept of himself which enabled him to rule by Divine right, and the philosophies of the time that supported his notions. Louis was five years old when he sat on the throne with the regency of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, against whom the nobles and the Paris Parlement (a powerful law court), rose in 1648 at the beginning of the long civil war known as the Fronde.In the course of this war, Louis suffered humiliation,poverty, misfortune, fear, cold, and hunger, because he had to often leave his place in Paris and go into hiding for his own safety.These early experiences led him to have a lifelong mistrust in the nobility, they taught him that the nobility was one of the greatest threats to a French king and inspired him to set about implementing his absolutist concepts. Being a devout Catholic, he had no trouble in imagining that he was an agent ordained by God himself to rule the kingdom and made great efforts to cultivate an image for himself that was based on myth and legend, as well as on reason and political legitimacy. Louis chose the sun as his personal emblem, signifying that he was the source of all benevolence in the kingdom and that the entire world, including the nobles, revolved around him, and he soon came to be known across all Europe as the "Sun King". "On June 5th, 1662, a procession of monkeys, bears, nobles, and slaves, spiralled through the streets of Paris in celebration of the glory of Louis XIV. ......the king was represented as the serene and uncontested master of the world; each noble carried a shield bearing a device which affirmed his absolute subjugation to Louis Dieu-donne figured as the sun." (Lynn, 1998) Louis' concept received further legitimacy in his status as agent of God in the work of those like Thomas Hobbes and Jacques-Bnigne Bossuet, who argued that monarchy was the most natural and ancient form of government , and since kings receive their power and sanction from God, their authority was absolute and unchallenged. "The power of God makes itself felt in a moment from one extremity of the earth to another. Royal power works at the same time throughout all the realm. It holds all the realm in position, as God holds the earth. Should God withdraw his hand, the earth would fall to pieces; should the king's authority cease in the realm, all would be in confusion." (Bossuet, 1679) This belief in absolute authority, a megalomania of sorts, reinforced the monarch's stance on the nobility, as they represented a threat to his power and security on the throne.Nobles before Louis' reign were feudal lords, and had the means to raise private armies. This was because the lesser nobles acted as the king's agents and in his name collected taxes, posted edicts and dispensed justice. They and their overlords, the higher nobility, provided armies to the king in times of war as the kings before Louis did not possess a standing army of their own. The higher nobles could also build their own fortifications, which gave them the power to hold their ground if they rose against the king.Louis realized that if the nobility continued to hold so much influence, not only will they tend to rebel and create disorder, he himself would be accorded the status of first among equals, and this he found totally

The history of united states Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The history of united states - Essay Example These differences emerge in terms of technological, cultural, and artistic change. History of the United States: Technological, Cultural, and Artistic Change The nature of progress throughout time is one of the fundamental differentiating factors between historical eras. While scholars contend that cultural and technological progress has been relatively uniform throughout human history, the explosion of industrial and digital technology throughout the 20th century constituted some of the most noticeable change in terms of lifestyle and culture. Indeed, an examination of the 20th century is impossible without an analysis of the significant progress that was achieved during the century. Through contrasting life during World War I and World II with life today, this essay constitutes a broad ranging investigation of technological, cultural, and artistic change within the United States. ... Life in the United States in 1911 lacked both modern radios and televisions (LeFeber). While radios existed during this period, it wasn’t until 1916 that the first radio emerged where individuals could change the station, greatly expanding the nature of entertainment and radio communication (LeFeber). There were no televisions or computers during this period of American history. One considers that without such technology the means of gaining news of significant cultural events could only be gained from newspapers. Similarly, it was very difficult to remain in contact with family or friends living long distances away, as modern telephone technology and email did not yet exist. In terms of movies, while by World War II there emerged sound films, individuals living at 1911 only could watch silent films. Another important technological consideration occurred in terms of transportation. While the first airplane had been invented at the early part of the 20th century, it wasnâ€℠¢t until 1919 that the first commercial flights emerged, and not until many years later that they would become an affordable option for most Americans (LeFeber). Of course, neither people living during World War I or World War II experienced aeronautical space shuttle technology. When considering technology in terms of lifestyle in 2011 United States it’s clear significant progress has been made since World War II. One considers one of the major changes being the ways that technological progress has changed the way people in American society interact. Today the emergence of social media technology has profoundly changed the way that people interact. Internet sites such as Facebook have made staying in contact with old friends and family as easy as walking to a computer. Similarly economic