Why did the royalty need to check on the nobility?

Question

The original text says "While the presence of royal absolutism, or of pre-industrial bureaucratic rule into modern times has created conditions unfavorable to democracy of the western type, it nevertheless served the function of checking the turbulence of the nobility."

Answer 1

In this case "checking" means to stop,or keep in line.Absolute royals were able to halt any turbulence among the nobiliate because the nobles paid attention to things like social precedence.

Answer 2

I think you misunderstood the statement "checking the turbulence of the nobility." The royalty did not "check on" the nobility.

"Royal absolutism (a strong ruler) ... served the function of [holding back or controlling] the turbulance of the nobility."

If the ruler was weak, then the nobility would squabble over leadership and there would be a power struggle which usually ends up in civil war. An example would be King John of England and the Barons of the Magna Charta.

Answer 3

This question doesn't have a mathmatical or logical answer. Circumstance dominates.  Who were the royalty, and who were the nobility?