While we tend to think of absolutism as just a really strong king, this episode shows how the concept of the centralized state was developed in response to the 17th century crisis of order. In particular, we look at French King Louis XIV and his magnificent palace of Versailles, showing how Louis turned his life into a performance in order to gain power over his nobles.

Image:

Hyacinthe Riguad, Portrait of Louis XIV (1701); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA)