How did new ideas and beliefs about religion and science change how people thought about the king's power?

During the Middle Ages, the king's power was often seen as divine right, meaning it was given by God. This belief was supported by the Church and was rarely questioned. However, during the Enlightenment period, new ideas and beliefs about religion and science began to emerge which challenged this view.

1. Scientific Revolution: The Scientific Revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries introduced a new way of thinking about the natural world. This was based on observation and reason rather than religious doctrine. Figures like Galileo and Newton proposed that the universe followed natural laws that could be discovered and understood. This led people to question other areas where the Church had authority, including the divine right of kings.

2. Enlightenment Thinkers: Philosophers of the Enlightenment, such as John Locke and Voltaire, promoted the idea of the social contract. They argued that the power of the king comes from the consent of the governed, not from God. This was a radical shift in thinking that eventually led to democratic revolutions in places like America and France.

3. Religious Changes: The Protestant Reformation also played a role in changing beliefs about the king's power. Martin Luther's idea of "priesthood of all believers" suggested that individuals had a direct relationship with God and could interpret the Bible for themselves. This undermined the Church's authority and by extension, the divine right of kings.

In conclusion, the new ideas and beliefs about religion and science that emerged during the Enlightenment period significantly changed how people thought about the king's power. Instead of viewing it as a divine right, people began to see the power of the king as something that should be based on the consent of the governed.