Question

“The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth. For kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be three principal similitudes that illustrate the state of monarchy. One taken out of the word of God, and the two other out of the grounds of policy and philosophy. In the Scriptures kings are called gods, and so their power after a certain relation compared to the divine power. Kings are also compared to fathers of families, for a king is truly parens patriae, the politic father of his people. And lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body of man.”

- excerpt from “King James VI and I,” Speech to Parliament (1609)

The source displays which method that rulers used to effectively administer their states?

A) Rulers adopted practices to accommodate religious diversity in order to utilize contributions of different religious groups.


B) Rulers used religious ideas, art, and monumental architecture to legitimize their rule.


C) Rulers recruited and used elites and professionals to maintain centralized control.


D) Rulers used tribute collection and tax farming to generate revenue for rule.

Answer 1

According to the excerpt the correct answer is B: the use of religious ideas, art, and monumental architecture as legitimatization.

On the excerpt James VI is defending the importance of monarchy on the ground that it's according the word of God. We see that it's by using this method that he convinces his people about the justice of his acts and administration.

James VI was the King of Scotland and as James I was king of England and Ireland when they were united in what came to be known as Union of the Crowns (1603).