"Monarch" — What is it?

According to Dictionary.com, a "monarch" is "a sovereign head of state, esp a king, queen, or emperor, who rules usually by hereditary right."  (The citation for this source, as taken from the website, can be found below.)  Well, this certainly answers my question about whether a monarch was solely a king or a queen or any individual and hereditary power... but it still leaves a lot of questions unanswered.  How exactly is a monarchy different from other powers?  When did monarchies come to power, and why are they declining now?  Some countries still have monarchies, but I think they're mostly just for show these days.  Are any countries still under the sole rule of a monarch and his/her family?

England is one of the most commonly known nations that still has a monarch.  Queen Elizabeth II is currently their monarch, but it's also common knowledge that she's mostly just a figurehead — the government system there is headed by a Prime Minister that seems to be much like our President here in the United States.  So why even keep the royal family at all?  Is it a cultural unifier, for diplomacy's sake, or for some other purpose entirely?

I went looking for a list of countries that still have monarchies, and found this list of English monarchs from 1066 to the present.  According to this site, the Norman Conquest brought about the beginning of the English monarchy as we know it, which has been ongoing since that time.  So here are a few more questions: who are some of the most influential and remembered kings/queens of the British Empire?  Why was the Norman Conquest so important?  What was the government in England prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066?  Was there still a king or a queen?

I'm also curious... what's the difference between royals and nobles?  Is there one, or are they just two words that are used for the same purpose?  If they're different, how do they differ, and why?  What is the structure of a monarchy that incorporates a king or queen and then other assorted titled persons?  (I know in the English structure, there are dukes, earls, barons, and so on... how do these figure into the overall structure of government, if at all?)

So I've answered one of my questions, but brought about quite a few more.  Looks like I'll be headed back to research to find as many of these answers as I can.


citations:
"monarch." Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 07 Sep. 2010. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monarch>.

Kings & Queens

How is a king/queen different from an emperor/empress?
What are the traditional duties of a king/queen (hereafter, monarch)?
Does "monarch" apply only to a king or queen, or is it a term that can be applied to any single power?
How is a monarchy different from anarchy, oligarchy, democracy, and other forms of government?
What are the other forms of government?
What countries still have royal families?
How did monarchy develop?
Compared to democracy, how does monarchy stand?
What other governmental and societal aspects of a nation does monarchy influence in a different way from other systems of government?
What are some of the pros and cons of a monarchy? A democracy? An oligarchy?
What is the role of a monarch today?
How does the Queen of England differ from the President of the United States of America in duties, role in government, and role in society?

Dawn

Exactly what time of day is dawn?
How long does it last?
Is there anything specific that happens at dawn that doesn't happen any other time of day?
What animals are active at dawn?
Which animals are just getting to bed?  Just waking up?
When it is dawn here in Frederick, what time of day is it in other places?

Night

What causes night?
Cultures around the world have legends about evil creatures that prowl the night and take away/harm innocent people under cover of night.  Why are we (the human race) so afraid of the darkness?
What are the implications of darkness?
Mythologically speaking, why is dark always so taboo?
Why are work shifts that occur during the night referred to as "graveyard shifts?"  Is it because nothing usually happens (i.e., it is as "silent as a graveyard")?

Dreams

What is a dream?
How do most people dream?
Does everyone dream, or is it just some people?
What is the difference between a literal dream (one that you have while you are asleep) and a metaphorical dream (a goal which you wish to accomplish, or a place you wish to reach)?  Can they be closely related or are they always separate?
Are dreams important?  Why?
Is there any significant symbolism in dreams, whether these dreams are literal or metaphorical?
How deeply do you have to sleep to dream?
Are there any side-effects from dreaming?
Is dreaming a side-effect of something else?
Do people remember their dreams always, often, sometimes, rarely, or never?
What is the significance of a recurring dream?  A recurring theme?

Age of Man

What is considered to be the "Age of Man?"
When did it start?
How would it come to be over?
What are characteristics of the Age of Man?  The effects?
Is there really an "Age of Man," or is this a phrase that Leto uses metaphorically?

Lesser Gods

What is the difference between monotheism and polytheism?
How prominently does religion figure into the average American's life?
In what religions do the concept of greater gods versus lesser gods figure heavily?
How many of the world's most prominent religions today are monotheistic?  How many are polytheistic?
What is the most well-known religion based on a theory of greater and lesser gods?
Are there any mythologies in which lesser gods are a concept that figures into today's media?
Is religion a factor to which many Americans are frequently exposed?
About how many people today think of themselves as being very religious people, and how many people don't even make it to church on Sundays?
How does atheism differ from monotheism and polytheism?
What is agnosticism?
How do different religions handle the concept of "Heaven and Hell?"  Is this concept even a factor?