why did Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and Frederick the great all build or expand the state bureaucracy? 1. to remove the possibility of peasant revolts; 2. to increase national centralization of power; 3. to increase the power of the nobility; or 4. to expand their territory and foreign influence
The main reasons why Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and Frederick the Great built or expanded the state bureaucracy can be attributed to options 2 and 4, which are:
2. To increase national centralization of power: These rulers aimed to consolidate their authority and establish a strong centralized state. By expanding the state bureaucracy, they sought to streamline governance, strengthen their control over resources and policies, and diminish the power of regional or local authorities. This centralization allowed them to implement reforms, enforce their will more effectively, and exert greater control over their territories.
4. To expand their territory and foreign influence: Another motive behind building or expanding the state bureaucracy was to enhance their territorial reach and increase their influence in international affairs. These rulers believed that a well-organized bureaucracy would enable them to efficiently manage and administer a larger empire. It would also facilitate the implementation of military and diplomatic strategies to expand their territory, consolidate their control over existing holdings, and project their influence abroad.
Option 1, removing the possibility of peasant revolts, might have been a secondary consideration for these rulers. While a more efficient bureaucracy could help maintain social order and prevent unrest, it was not the primary focus of their bureaucratic expansion efforts. Option 3, increasing the power of the nobility, is not supported by historical evidence as these rulers generally sought to reduce the power of the nobility and enhance their own authority.