Political Feature of the 18th Century
The major political feature of the 18th century was the rise of absolute monarchies in Europe. This period saw the consolidation of power in the hands of monarchs who sought to centralize authority and control over their territories.

Key Points:
- Absolutism: Monarchs such as Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia exercised absolute power over their realms, bypassing traditional checks and balances like parliaments or nobility.
- Divine Right: The concept of divine right of kings was widely accepted, asserting that monarchs were appointed by God and therefore had absolute authority.
- Centralization of Power: Monarchs implemented administrative reforms to centralize power, create efficient bureaucracies, and weaken the influence of regional nobles.
- Military Strength: Monarchs built strong armies and used them to expand their territories, maintain control over subjects, and suppress dissent.
- Colonial Expansion: European monarchs engaged in colonial expansion, establishing overseas empires and exploiting resources for economic gain.
Overall, the 18th century was characterized by the dominance of absolute monarchies in Europe, with rulers wielding unprecedented power and authority over their realms.