Eli’s Mind

(1) Cardinal Richelieu’s primary aims were to centralize royal power in France, strengthen the monarchy, and diminish the influence of both internal and external threats.

(2) Factors contributing to the decline of Spain included economic troubles, military overextension, inefficiency, and a rigid social structure.

(3) Constitutionalism refers to a system of government where a constitution outlines the distribution and limitations of power. Juan de Mariana, a Spanish Jesuit and scholastic philosopher, contributed to the discourse on constitutionalism during the 16th and 17th centuries. In his works, Mariana advocated for the idea of tyrannicide, asserting that if a ruler became tyrannical and violated natural law, the people had the right to resist and potentially overthrow the ruler. This view challenged the divine right of kings, highlighting Mariana’s early insights into the concept of popular sovereignty and the limitations on absolute power.

(4) Hobbes says in the natural state, people fighting for resources leads to a tough life. To fix this, he suggests a social contract: individuals give up some rights to a powerful authority in exchange for protection. Keeping promises is vital for justice, and a strong government is needed to ensure peace.