Contextualization

Absolutism was a political regime that prevailed in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, where the king, considered God's envoy on Earth, had unlimited and unquestionable powers. Royalty and nobility lived in luxury and opulence at the expense of the people's sweat. This historical period was marked by great social, economic, and cultural transformations, the reflections of which are still felt in many modern societies.

Studying absolutism is essential for understanding power, how it is exercised, and how it affects society. Understanding what absolutism is and how it worked can help us understand current issues, such as the concentration of power, social and economic inequality, and struggles for democracy and human rights.

However, the concept of absolutism is not unidimensional. There are several forms of absolutism that were adopted in different countries and at different times in history. French absolutism, for example, is considered the classic example of the absolutist system. On the other hand, absolutism in England had its peculiarities, resulting from the struggle between the monarchy and Parliament.

The theme of absolutism should not be seen as an isolated topic, but as part of a broader discussion about the relationship between power and people. Therefore, in this activity, we will explore the concept of absolutism, its different types, and how they affected people's lives during the 15th to 18th centuries.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Board Game 'The Path of Absolutism'

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to create an educational board game that represents the various stages and challenges of the development of absolutist regimes in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Detailed Project Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5, must use their acquired knowledge about absolutism and its main historical events and figures to create a board game. The game must have clear rules, challenges related to the theme, and an objective that reflects the concept of absolutism. It is important that the events, characters, and challenges of the board game are correctly contextualized in the studied historical period.

Required Materials

The following materials will be needed to carry out the project:

1. Cardboard or cardboard for the base of the board
2. Colored pens, colored pencils, or paints for decoration
3. Cardboard paper for creating game cards or tokens
4. Scissors
5. Glue
6. Printed or handwritten game rules

Step-by-Step Guide for Activity Execution

1. Research: Start the project with in-depth research on the absolutism period. Focus on the different types of absolutism, important events, historical figures, and the social impact of these regimes.

2. Game Structure Creation: Based on the acquired knowledge, students must create the structure of the board game. This includes the board design, game rules, challenges, historical figures that will be part of the game, etc.

3. Game Board Development: Next, students must develop the game board, marking paths, creating spaces for events or challenges, etc.

4. Creation of Game Cards or Tokens: Game cards or tokens must be created to represent events, challenges, or historical figures. These cards or tokens should be used during the game to add dynamism and interactivity.

5. Game Review and Testing: Once the game is completed, students must review the rules and operation of the game. They should play several times to ensure that the game works correctly and that the historical content is accurately represented.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, students must deliver the finalized board game along with the written report. The report should contain four sections as described below:

1. Introduction: In this section, students must contextualize the theme, demonstrate its relevance and real-world application, and explain the project's objective.

2. Development: Here, students must detail the theory of absolutism, describe in detail the created board game, explain the methodology used in the game creation (such as research conducted, criteria for creating challenges, characters, rules, etc.), present and discuss the results obtained (such as gameplay, learning experience through the game, etc.).

3. Conclusion: In this section, students must summarize the main points of the project, highlight the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the absolutism theme. Students should also analyze how the created board game represents these conclusions.

4. Bibliography: Finally, students must list the sources used in the project – books, articles, websites, documentaries, etc.

In the report, students must demonstrate their technical skills in History, as well as socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, proactivity, etc. It is important for students to be committed to both creating the game and writing the report, as both are fundamental parts of this project.