Enlightened Absolutism

1
Enlightened Absolutism
2
Objective

• To understand the concept of Enlightened
  Absolutism
• To identify Enlightened Despots
• To understand why they were Enlightened

3
Enlightened Absolutism

• Absolute monarchs who were influenced by the Age
  of Enlightenment
• Objective was to rule rationally and efficiently
• Ultimate goal was further consolidation of power

4
Frederick the Great

• King of Prussia (1740-1786)
• Transformed Prussia into a major power
• Built up government bureaucracy
• Reformed legal system
• Built up infrastructure
• Allowed religious toleration
• Considered himself Servant of the State

5
Maria Theresa

• Empress of Austria (1740-1780)
• Made government more efficient
• Regulated treatment of serfs
• Reformed educational system

6
Joseph II

• Holy Roman Emperor (1780-1790)
• Continued policies of Maria Theresa
• Goal was to centralize government
• Allowed religious toleration
• Placed Roman Catholic churches under government
  control
• Policies resisted by the nobility

7
Catherine the Great

• Empress of Russia (1762-1796) after period of
  instability
• Gave privileges to the nobility
• Extended Russian territory
• Corresponded with philosophes
• But had no intention of using their ideas

8
The Partition of Poland

• Russia, Austria, and Prussia expanding their
  territories
• Poland stood in the way
• Weak Polish government encouraged Russia,
  Austria, and Prussia to divide Poland among
  themselves between 1772-1795
• Poland disappears from the map for more than 100
  years

9
Conclusion

• The Age of Enlightenment was a period of
  intellectual exchange
• Philosophes believed that society could be
  improved by the use of reason
• European absolute monarchs become influenced by
  the Enlightenment by ruling rationally to
  maintain power