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~700 BC Athens was the first modern democracy.
Pericles, Aristotle, and Plato were important figures in the government.
Athens was a direct democracy, its central feature was an Assembly open to all males 18 years and older. It debated public matters and made laws, and decisions were made by a majority vote. There was a Council of 500, who were chosen randomly, served one year terms, and did the day-to-day work of the government.

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Before the democratic government, Rome was a monarchy. The monarchical rule was overthrown in 509 BC and replaced by a crude form of popular government. The Romans deemed it "res publica," or republic.
Marcus Tullius Cicero was an important figure during their time, and the American government is influenced by his writings.
There was a struggle between two social classes: the patricians and the plebeians. The government was covered in the Senate, composed of about 300 members, with 2 consuls chosen by the Senate. Senators were elected by the people, who were mostly patricians. The consuls were basically the heads of state.

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Feudalism became popular after the fall of the Roman Republic and the chaos that endured after it.
Lords and their vassals were the important figures in this form of government.
Powerful lords divided their land amongst lesser lords, vassals. Those with land and power agreed to protect others in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and a share of the crops they produced. In many ways, this was a monarchy.

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The Roman Catholic Church became the official church of the Roman Empire in A.D. 380.
As most of Europe converted to Catholicism, the Church became more powerful. By the late Middle Ages, the pope and his bishops ruled vast land holdings, and they frequently vied with monarchs and lords for political/religious influence over peoples' lives.

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Monarchies already kind of existed in feudalism, so making the switch to an absolute monarchy was not difficult. So, by the late 1400's, this is exactly what happened.
To help manage the national government, monarchs hired educated loyal civil servants typically born in local towns. Their perspectives were national.
The state, in the person of the monarch, had sovereignty, and every person was subordinate to that authority. The monarch had the right to make laws for the nation and all its people.

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Control of one nation over land abroad. Began in the late 1400's- early 1500's.
European settlers, laws, and religious beliefs spread around the world as rival nations competed for colonial possessions.

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Colonial trade and its wealth brought newfound power to merchants, and monarchs adopted mercantilism to control/profit from the situation. Became popular with colonialism in late 1400's- early 1500's.
Economic/political theory emphasizing money as the chief source of wealth to increase the absolute power of the monarchy and the nation. Nations building a favorable balance of trade with other countries.
Monarchs taxed imports heavily to promote local goods, foreigners were required to buy licenses from the state to trade with local merchants.

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John Locke - put forth the notion of the natural rights of all men, including the rights of life, liberty, and property. Ideas used in the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Hobbes - people and rulers are bound to a social contract that defines the powers and rights of each.
Francois-Marie Arouet/Voltaire - advocated reason, freedom of religion, the importance of scientific observation, and the idea of human progress.
Baron de Montesquieu - separation of powers, checks and balances.

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United Kingdom - It's a constitutional monarchy, so while the sovereign is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.
Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is a monarchy based on Islam. The government is headed by the King, who is also the commander-in-chief of the military. It's an absolute monarchy, so the King has no limitations.