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Athens was the first democracy

Began to develop  around 700 to 800 B.C.

The people were involved in the government, at base it was a direct democracy all males over 18 could be selected to participate

it was operated by the people with all males over 18 being able to be selected to be 1 of the 500 people in the assembly. Majority ruled

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founded in 753 B.C. the roman republic was originally a monarchy, it lasted for about 400 years till it became the Roman Empire

Was a sort of representative democracy with struggle between the high class patricians and the common plebeians.

Held elections with free males to elect representatives

The government was centered in a senate of 300 and two consuls chosen by the senate, consuls were effectively heads of state and commanded the army and enforced laws.

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Started in the 16th century after the collapse of organized forms of government like Athens and Rome

Powerful lords divided their land to lesser lords and offered protection in exchange for military service.

there were no elections the lord had full control.

it was operated by a lord with lesser lords dividing up the authority of the land.

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The Roman Catholic Church ruled during the Roman Empire and in the middle ages along with Feudalism, it traces its origins back to 33 A.D. the time of Jesus' death and resurrection.

The Pope and his Bishops ruled vast lands and worked with monarchs during the middle ages

most Europeans were Roman Catholic

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Monarchies began to strengthen in the 1400s when flaws between lords and  merchants in Feudalism began to become evident and a more centralized system was required

while in Feudalism  power was shared between a lord and his nobles in an absolute monarchy the monarch had complete power

monarchs were often influenced by religion believing they were chosen by God

The power in a monarchy often went from monarchs to nobles to knights and vassals to farmers merchants and craftsman followed by peasants

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Austria was an absolute monarchy for most of its history. It originated as part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an absolute monarchy meaning that the ruler had absolute authority. Austria was ruled by the Habsburgs from 1282 to 1918.
The United kingdom became a constitutional monarchy in 1688 meaning that they had a written constitution that the monarchs could not violate. Because the UK adapted to a constitutional monarchy it is still around and ruled by the Windsor family. This type of monarchy does not have near as much power because the rulers are limited by parliament as well as a constitution.

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In the late 1400s monarchies began to pursue colonialism

colonialism is described as the control of one nation controlling lands abroad

an example of colonialism is England controlling the original 13 colonies in America

Colonies often adopted mercantilism

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Mercantilism was an economic theory often adopted by colonies where money was emphasized as the chief source of power for the monarchy that rules them

gained popularity in the 1400s with the rise of colonies

called for the accumulation of precious metals like gold and silver

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At the beginning of the 18th century scientific discoveries based on reason lead to new ideas and thinking in a period called the Enlightenment

Major Enlightenment thinkers came up with ideas that are still applied today

John Locke - said all men have the right to life liberty and property

Thomas Hobbes - Came up with social contract theory which states that a ruler is bound to the will of the governed

Adam smith and David Ricardo - criticized monarchs for growing rich while keeping the peasants poor

Voltaire - came up with the idea of freedom of religion

Many of these enlightenment beliefs made it into the U.S. constitution