The period between the end of the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution is often summarized in education under the term "Absolutism." However, this era was more than just the development of a concept of rule that remained more of a wish than a reality. This booklet gathers numerous materials on three focal points: The first part explores absolutism as an ideal of governance, which was manifested very differently in various places at different times. The second part describes the Baroque as an art style that seeks to combine rigor and vitality. The third part makes the Enlightenment tangible as the foundation of modern thought. The booklet is aimed at lower secondary education and can be taught in parts or as a series.