Ashley Rosario, Group#4, 2002 Exam

Thematic Essay: In what ways and to what extent

did Absolutism affect the power and status of the

European nobility in the period 1650 to 1750? Use
examples from at least 2 countries.
Critical Trigger Words: To what extent, Affect
the power and status, 1650-1750 and At least 2
countries.
Two Step Direction Phrase: Focus on not only on
how Nobles are in general, but focus on the 2 countries
you picked and how they are either similar in power or
different. In this case, I used France and Russia.

Introduction

BP: Briefly talk

about how Nobles
were treated not
only during this
time period but
throughout History.

NF: Talk about the

Age of Absolutism
and how France and
Russia played a
role.
Dir: How French
and Russian nobles
were effected by the
Age of Absolutism.

Three
Step
Arc

Introduction
Throughout the course of history, Nobles have been a

the top of the hierarchy, overseeing the workers and

the peasants. Why you may ask? Because with money
comes power, position in government and an increase
in profit. During the Age of Absolutism, nobles
especially in France and Russia, have had benefits
exclusively to benefit their own kind of status. As we
progress, our main focus will be how nobles have
been treated during history, what France and Russia
did during the Age of Absolutism to affect the power
and status of European nobility.

Body One
Support your
definitions by
providing examples
about a Nobles
Lifestyle (what they
eat, wear, what kind of
power they have..etc)
Wrap it up to tie how
Nobles in general are
different from the once
in France and Russia

Give your own

definition of what a
Noble means

Focus:
Life of the
Nobility
In General

Body One
A noble, according to dictionary.com, is belonging to,

or constituting a hereditary class that has special social

or political status in a country or state; of pertaining to
aristocracy. Nobles were always in power simply
because of wealth; because of that, they were able to
vote, own land and own their own business. The only
problem with that was that of the people were
nobles, which meant that most of the people were
peasants that didnt have money to buy food. In Europe
not all Nobles were the same, but many nobles were
treated differently. For example, France and Russia.

Body Two

Talk about who

is ruling during
this time so the
reader can get a
big picture idea

Explain
how/what were
the nobles able
to gain from
being nobles.

Focus:
French
Nobility

Tie it into how

French nobles
are able to gain
something out of
their status/ title

Body Two
Louis XIV took the throne of France when he was young.
Nevertheless, he was able to centralize the government and
build a palace, names Versailles, which reflected his
absolute power. The Nobles of France had and gained much
power and social status. They controlled political bodies,
regional parliaments, or courts but they had to get a decree
from the king to get it into effect. Nobles were also
encouraged to live on the grounds of Versailles live under
the rule of kind Louis XIV. Many Nobles competed to
participate in the ceremony of the kings waking, dinning
and retiring to bed. As you can see, the Nobles of France are
able to gain something out of their status in society.

Body Three
Talk about how
Peter made them
go through
changes in which
aren't agreeable
Introduce who is
ruling at this time
and what he did.

Focus:
Russian
Nobility

Talk about how

by taking away
their status is like
taking away their
life.

Body Three
During this time, Peter the Great was in charge of Russia. He

sought to one, westernize Russia, two, strengthen the

military, three, expand Russia's borders and centralize
Russia's borders. Unlike France, in which the Nobles gained
something of their status, Russian Nobles had to endure a
new change that Peter has brought to them. Since Peters
ultimate goal was to westernize Russia, he wanted everyone
to cut their beards and wear western clothes. Not only that
but for people to be ranked by service not by inheritance!
Since this big change was talking place, it is brutally obvious
that the Nobles would be against this type of lifestyle because
their life and status depends on the money being profited.

Conclusion

Recap briefly
how
Absolutism
effected nobles

How French
nobles are
Russian nobles
are different
Today we still
have a
hierachy

Looking
ahead...

Conclusion
Ultimately, the central theme on how Absolutism affected

the life's of the nobility is expressed in this essay by

explaining how essentially the Nobles lives were
throughout history, and how France and Russia had a
difference in which the Nobles either benefited or didnt
benefit from during the Age of Absolutism. As we fast
forward through time, you will see that the lives of the
Nobles start to diminish yet the term High Class is still
there to differentiate the Middle Class and the Lower
Class; yet without this hierarchy, there would be a
classless society, which would eventually lead to the end of
history.

Miscellaneous
Essay is really a three-step process:
Show how Nobles lives were the same but in some

cases had more power than others

Demonstrate that the French Nobles and Russian
Nobles dont have the same power
And tie it together with modern society.