enlightened absolutism
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Enlightened Absolutism. Overview. Most philosophes did no favor Montesquieu’s or Rousseau’s gov’t reforms They looked to existing monarchies Promoted power toward rationalization of economic/political strucutres - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Overview• Most philosophes did no favor Montesquieu’s or
Rousseau’s gov’t reforms• They looked to existing monarchies• Promoted power toward rationalization of
economic/political strucutres• European rulers who embraced reforms of
philosophes were enlightened absolute monarchs.
• They embraced ideas to increase military and diplomatic power in Europe; become more competitive.
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
Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780)
Consolidated central power of crown
Limited autonomy of regions
Wanted to make gov’t efficient.
Limited the burden of peasants on the robot.
Wanted an able supply of soldiers
Joseph II (r. 1765-1790)Continued strengthening the crown.
Asserted state control over the RCC
Tried to improve economic conditions
Frederick II (1740-1786)Admired philosophes
Codified laws made legal system more efficient
Promoted religious freedom and religious toleration
Compulsory education for all
No limits on Junkers
State dominated by military
Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796)One of greatest rulers in European history· As a reformer, perhaps the least “enlightened” of the Enlightened Despots
She was a lover of French culture and considered herself a child of the Enlightenment
Catherine the GreatConsidered freeing serfs until the Pugachev rebellion (1773).
Gave boyars complete control over serfs, gaining favor from boyars.
Imported western culture into Russiaa. Architects, artists, musicians and writers were invited to Russiab. Culturally, Russia gained the respect of western European countriesEducational reformsa. Supported the first private printing presses.· The number of books published annually in Russia increased to about 400 during her reign from a couple dozen.b. School for noble girls founded Restricted torture
• Shortcomings of Catherine’s reforms– Only the state and the nobility benefited; the rest of the Russian
population benefited little, if at all– Nobles gained more legal and financial security from the
state– Nobles freed from taxes or state service– Serfdom became even more severe– Nobles had complete control over their serfs and could
mete out arbitrary punishments (even death)– Only nobles could own land
Territorial Growth
a. Annexed Polish territory under the 3 partitions with Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1793 & 1795b. Gained Ottoman land in the Crimea that was controlled by the Tartars.c. Began conquest of the Caucasus region.d. Expansion provided Catherine with new lands with which to give the nobility (to earn their loyalty)
End of the Enlightenment in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Innovations in Russia, Prussia, and Austria met with resistance.
• Prussia – Frederick II grew old and distant. Aristocrats regained power & controlled military/society
• Austria – Joseph II’s reforms brought revolt. He turned to censorship and his secret police
• Russia – Rebellion and the Fr. Rev. brought an end to reform.