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Article: Authority, Concept of
- Article from:
- Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World
- Author:
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AUTHORITY, CONCEPT OF
AUTHORITY, CONCEPT OF.
From the Latin
auctoritas,
the term "authority" was first applied to the Roman emperors, indicating that the emperor not only had political dominion but was also perfect in his person in every respect and deserved obedience and imitation for that reason. In the medieval and early modern eras it had the meaning of identifying men who had predominance in the different areas of human society and were to be esteemed and complied with. In politics it was applied to the Holy Roman emperor; in religion, to the pope; in the family, to the father. All drew on the authority of God over creation. In the areas of culture and learning it referred to ...