1. Enlightenment and Absolute monarchy
Objective: Enlightenment ideas challenged practices related to religious authority, monarchy, and absolutism.

2. Absolute monarchy dominates the landscape
Until the 1700s, people in general had accepted the rule of absolute monarchs.
The exception was England, where, beginning in 1215 with the Magna Carta, the rights of the monarchy had been limited.
But even in England, society was divided into strict social classes.

3. Absolute monarchy dominates the landscape
Below the monarch was the aristocracy, which was the next level of wealth and power.
The majority of people were peasant farmers.
But an emerging middle class of merchants and manufacturers (business owners) soon began to challenge the established social and political systems.

4. Despots=Absolute Ruler
Enlightened despots
Despots=Absolute Ruler

5. Enlightened despots
Some European rulers became interested in the ideas of the Enlightenment.
They understood the usefulness of these ideas and accepted them, at least to a limited degree.
None of the so-called enlightened despots was willing to relinquish any of his or her power to the people.
Their style of governing became known as enlightened absolutism.

6. Had no intention of giving up any power
Enlightened Despots
Had no intention of giving up any power
Changes made were motivated by two desires
They wanted to make countries stronger
They wanted their own rule to be more effective

7. Serfs and Serfdom Definition Synonyms
1. a person in a condition of servitude, required to render services to a lord, commonly attached to the lord's land and transferred with it from one owner to another.
2. a slave.
Synonyms
1.  vassal, villein, peasant.

8. Civil service system
Civil Service System=non-elected permanent government employees collectively
1. Those branches of public service that are not legislative, judicial, or military and in which employment is usually based on competitive examination.
2. The service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country.
3. Members of the civil service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments.

9. Frederick the great

10. Influenced by the works of Voltaire
Frederick the great
Prussia
Late 1700s
Influenced by the works of Voltaire

11. Frederick the great
Undertook public works projects to put more land into cultivation and to introduce new crops
These reforms made
the peasant farmers
more prosperous and
enriched Prussia.

12. Frederick the great
Introduced civil service system into the Prussian government
By reorganizing the government according to principles of efficiency and rationality, Frederick actually strengthened his own control over the government and the nation.

13. Reformed the justice system and abolished the use of torture.
Frederick the great
Granted many religious freedoms, reduced censorship, and improved education
Reformed the justice system and abolished the use of torture.
Which Enlightened thinkers are represented?

14. Frederick the Great Changes only went so far
For example, he believed serfdom was wrong
But he did nothing to end it since he needed the support of wealthy landowners (Nobles/Estates)
He never tried to change the existing social order
The main purpose of Frederick’s reforms was to make himself more powerful.

15. Joseph II
Most Radical

16. Joseph ii
Austria
Late 1700s.
Began wide-ranging program of social, economic, and religious reforms based on Enlightenment ideas.

17. Joseph ii Ended serfdom (Most Radical Idea)
Attempted to diminish the power of the nobles and the Roman Catholic Church

18. Joseph ii
Seized and sold many buildings and much land belonging to the church and established a civil service to run a government.
Joseph wanted to break down the old feudal system of hereditary and clerical power and privilege.

19. Supported freedom of worship
Joseph II
Legal Reforms
Freedom of press
Supported freedom of worship

20. The nobles and church firmly resisted these changes.
Joseph II
The nobles and church firmly resisted these changes.
Unfortunately, only a few of his reforms continued after his death. (Serfdom Re-Instated)

21. Catherine the great

22. Catherine the great
Russia
Late 1700s
Admired the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers

23. Catherine the great Formed a commission to review Russia’s laws
Proposal for reforms based on the ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria.
Among the changes, she recommended allowing religious toleration and abolishing torture and capital punishment.
Her commission, however, accomplished none of these lofty goals

24. Catherine the great
She made some attempts at reforming Russia’s government.
For example, she granted nobles a charter of rights that strengthened their role in government.

25. Catherine the great
When she first came to the throne, she had hoped to free the serfs (peasants who were legally tied to an estate for life).
However, frightened by peasant uprisings early in her reign, Catherine ended by giving the owners of the estates even more power over their serfs.

26. Enlightened Despots
In the end, the ideals of the enlightenment proved to be incompatible with the realities of absolute rule.