ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS

• Centralization of power uniformity of law

• Emphasized military strength

• Secular in basis, promotion of religious
  toleration

• Rationalizing reforming

• Aimed at strengthening state, justified as
  beneficial to all, reducing local authority

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
AUSTRIA MARIA THERESA JOSEPH II

• MARIA THERESA (r. 1740-1780)

• Strengthened central power of crown

• Limited autonomy of regions

• Aimed at making govt. more efficient

• Limited burden on peasants, reduced ROBOT

• Main concern healthy pool of military recruits

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
AUSTRIA MARIA THERESA JOSEPH II

• JOSEPH II (r. 1765-1790)

• Continued strengthening central authority

• Asserted royal authority over church

• Promoted religious toleration

• Tried to improve economic conditions

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
AUSTRIA MARIA THERESA JOSEPH II

• JOSEPH II (r. 1765-1790)

• Reformed judicial system rationalized laws

• Enacted far-reaching reforms of rural social
  structure

• Abolished serfdom robot

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
PRUSSIA FREDERICK II , THE GREAT (r. 1740-1786)

• Great admirer of philosophes their ideas

• Codified laws made legal system more efficient

• Promoted religious freedom toleration

• Extended rudimentary education to all

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
PRUSSIA FREDERICH II, THE GREAT (r. 1740-1786)

• No changes to social hierarchy

• No limitations on JUNKERS (nobles) power

• State continued to be dominated by military

• Economy highly centralized

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
RUSSIA CATHERINE II, THE GREAT (r. 17462-1796)

• Admired enlightenment thought

• Based legal reform on Montesquieus Spirit of
  the Laws

• Granted limited religious toleration

• Allowed limited social criticism

• Expanded education encouraged scholarship

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ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
RUSSIA CATHERINE II, THE GREAT (r. 17462-1796)

• But her liberalism was limited

• Upheld institutions of serfdom autocracy

• Restricted Jews to living in PALE OF SETTLEMENT

• Became increasingly conservative

• Stopped Polish reforms crushed insurrection