International Relations Political System (Past & Present) Article Two

Political Systems Throughout history, many kinds of political systems developed in different areas of the world depending on the needs of the people, and the economic resources available. In Europe, as well as in parts of China, India, Africa, and South America, a system known as monarchy developed. Beginning in ancient Greece, the practice of democracy has continued into the 21st century. In both Europe and Japan, feudalism had developed by the 1100s. By the 1500s, absolutism, and divine right monarchy, had emerged, especially in Europe. The Enlightenment, a rejection of absolutism, forced political changes in Europe, North America and Western Asia. The 1850s saw the rapid spread of an anticapitalist economic & political system called communism. Monarchy and the Divine Right to rule In most of the oldest river valley civilizations, the strongest military man became king. A political system in which government is controlled by a king or queen is called a monarchy. Some kings were also the chief priest in their city. This dual role was not uncommon, and served to place the king on a much higher social level than his subjects, thus making it easier for him to govern them Some kings took the religious affiliation even further, declaring they had the right to rule because God had chosen them to do so. Claiming to rule by divine right made kings appear very powerful, and closely connected to the patron god of the city. I. Examples of Early Monarchy -Mesopotamia In Sumer and Babylon, the king was often the monarch and the high priest. The position of these so-called priest-kings was relatively unstable. If the god(s) didn't provide for welfare of the citizens, the people often held the king responsible, and deposed him. -Egypt In the land of the Nile, the all-powerful monarch was called pharaoh. The people thought pharaoh was the physical incarnation of the god Horus here on earth. As both a man and a god, pharaoh blended and used both politics and religion to govern his lands.

Kingship in the Ancient World -China Chinese emperors justified their actions by claiming the Mandate of Heaven, or divine right of rule. The Mandate of Heaven was later used to explain the Dynastic Cycle. A dynasty would remain in power only as long as it was providing good government. When a dynasty went into decline, and began to abuse its power, it was said to lose the Mandate of Heaven, or the favor of the gods. A strong leader would usually emerge to claim the Mandate, and establish a new dynasty. The dynastic cycle would then begin again. -India The Indus Valley had long been divided into rival kingdoms. In 321 BCE., Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya dynasty. The Mauryan Empire had a strong central government and an proficient bureaucracy, a system of operating government through departments run by officials. Roman Empire By 270 BCE, Rome controlled all of Italy. They also conquered most of southern Europe and parts of Asia Minor. This expansion led to a civil war and the end of the Republic when Julius Caesar took power in 48 BCE. After his murder, Caesar's grandnephew, Augustus, became Emperor. Under Augustus, a 200 year long peace began, which is called the Pax Romana. The Pax Romana became a time of cultural and intellectual achievements for Rome, and saw the return of the monarchy to Rome. Modern Monarchy During the Middle Ages, kings and strong nobles battled with the Roman Catholic Church for supreme power. Beginning in England an France, kings began to strengthen their central power, and restrict the Church. The struggle grew especially fierce over lay investiture, or the power to name Bishops and other church officials within the country. This fighting later resulted in the foundation of nation-states, under many different political systems. In Spain, England, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia, absolute monarchies were established. Each had a different level of success. Absolute monarchies also existed in Mughal India and Ottoman Asia Minor & Africa. II. European Feudalism About 500 CE, much of western Europe was left without a strong centralized government due to the breakdown of the Roman Empire. With little organized resistance, Germanic invaders raided western European cities and monasteries. Because kings were often too weak to repel the invaders, many city dwellers moved into the countryside in hopes of greater safety. As a result of the invasions, and a weak central government, a new social and political system known as feudalism developed. Strong

local lords formed a strict code of behavior and allegiances which became the foundation of feudal life. For example, the king controlled huge tracts of land. He would give his support and a large piece of land, called a fief, to a powerful lord in return for loyalty and military support. This meant the lord was now a vassal of the king. The Lord would then divide up that land among his supporters, usually less powerful lords, obtaining vassals of his own. The Lesser Lords would do the same, dividing up the increasingly smaller land holdings to their knights. Finally, the knights would be left in direct control of the land and the peasants or townsfolk who lived there. The peasants were expected to grow food, tend the land, and provide military support to the feudal lords. Under European feudalism, there was very little opportunity for social advancement. The Feudal Economy Feudal lords and knights lived in a manor house on a large estate. The economy that grew up around the lord's home is known as manorialism. Under this system, everyone had a well-defined place in the social structure. Many nobles became knights, mounted warriors, who lived according to a code of conduct called chivalry. They were expected to be honest, brave, and loyal to their word. Most peasants were serfs, meaning they could not leave their lord's lands without permission. The serfs farmed and provided manual and military labor for the lord, and in return, he protected them and gave them a few acres to farm for themselves.

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