Final answer:
Absolute monarchy was commonplace in history due to feudal traditions and the centralization of power, with monarchs justifying their absolute rule by hereditary succession and divine right.
Step-by-step explanation:
For much of history, absolute monarchy was so common due predominantly to feudal traditions and the consolidation of power for purposes such as protection and governance. Monarchs rose from a landscape of continual warfare and secured their reigns through mechanisms like hereditary succession, often justified by the doctrine of divine right. Over time, they acquired enough wealth and power to impose their will over powerful nobles and elevate their status above other forms of rule. This absolute power, coupled with the lack of alternate effective forms of government, led to monarchs' roles extending beyond rulers to protectors and guides of their people. The establishment of these dynasties created a system in which political power was centralized, a necessary condition for later developments such as the market economy and various societal shifts including increased social mobility.