Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP World History Practice Questions and Study Guide

Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions, implemented significant reforms that included careful adjustments to the power dynamics between the nobility and their serfs. By cautiously reducing the power that nobles had over their serfs, she sought to improve the conditions of serfdom and increase the authority of the central government. This approach allowed her to consolidate her rule, while also addressing the inequities faced by the serfs under noble control.

Under her reign, measures were introduced that aimed to limit the arbitrary authority of nobles, enhancing the rights and protections of serfs without fully dismantling the existing feudal structures. This balance was crucial for maintaining stability and order within her diverse and sprawling empire, as well as for fostering loyalty among her subjects, including the nobility, who still retained a degree of influence.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately capture the nuanced approach Maria Theresa took towards nobilities' power over serfs. She did not eliminate noble titles or establish a constitutional limit, and while noble power was significant, her reforms specifically aimed at alleviating the harshness of feudal obligations for serfs, rather than strengthening noble authority.