During which centuries did Absolutism predominantly take place?

Absolutism predominantly took place from the 16th to the 19th centuries, a period characterized by the consolidation of power in the hands of monarchs and central authorities. This era saw significant figures such as Louis XIV of France, who epitomized the absolutist model by claiming a divine right to rule, and Peter the Great of Russia, who sought to centralize governance and modernize the state. The 17th century was particularly crucial as many European states transitioned to more absolute regimes, while the Enlightenment in the 18th century began to challenge these notions of absolute power, leading to eventual shifts towards constitutional forms of governance. Thus, the timeframe of the 16th to the 19th centuries accurately encapsulates the rise and evolution of absolutism in Europe.