(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Medium of History

During the period of the Old Regime, Europe witnessed a movement towards the strengthening of monarchical power, culminating in the establishment of absolutist regimes. Absolutism was a form of governance characterized by the almost total concentration of power in the hands of the monarch, often justified by the notion of the divine right of kings. Historian John Locke, in 'Two Treatises of Government,' criticizes absolutism and advocates for the separation of powers as a way to prevent despotism. In his analysis, Locke states that 'wherever law ends, tyranny begins' and argues that rulers should be limited by law and the consent of the governed. Considering the European context of the 17th and 18th centuries, discuss: (1) To what extent did absolutism reflect the political, social, and cultural conditions of Europe at that time? (2) Evaluate, based on Locke's thinking, how absolutism could lead to despotic forms of government and what impacts this could have on the social and economic structures of European countries.