IMPACT OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT Enlightened Absolutism

ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM MONARCHS PRINCIPLES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT WHY? MONARCHS “ embraced the PRINCIPLES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT and applied it to their kingdoms while maintaining their royal & absolute powers!” WHY? “Hey, I know what is ‘best’ for you guys!” THESE MONARCHS RULED WITH THE INTENT OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THEIR SUBJECTS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN & REINFORCE THEIR AUTHORITY THESE MONARCHS RULED WITH THE INTENT OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THEIR SUBJECTS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN & REINFORCE THEIR AUTHORITY! is a form of absolute monarchy (despotism) in which rulers were ‘influenced’ by the Enlightenment “…is a form of absolute monarchy (despotism) in which rulers were ‘influenced’ by the Enlightenment!” THINK What was the most common type of government in Europe during the 17 th and 18 th centuries “What was the most common type of government in Europe during the 17 th and 18 th centuries?” France, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, Russia, Spain, Sweden DESPOT DESPOT: Type of ruler with absolute power. ENLIGHTENMENT ENLIGHTENMENT: Intellectual period of the 18 th century based on the idea that society could be improved by the use of reason.

Friedrich the Great * PRUSSIAN King ( ) VOLTAIRE Admired VOLTAIRE! (courted with Friedrich – WHY?) CIVIL SERVICE 1. Modernized Prussian CIVIL SERVICE (judges, courts) RELIGIOUS TOLERATION 2. Granted universal RELIGIOUS TOLERATION ABOLISHED TORTURE 3. ABOLISHED TORTURE except for murder/treason WRITTEN LEGAL CODE 4. Created a WRITTEN LEGAL CODE! limited freedom serfdomabsolute power * BUT – limited freedom of speech and press, did not abolish serfdom… Demanded absolute power. ENLIGHTENED OR NOT?

Maria Theresa AUSTRIAN Empress ( ) REFORMED EDUCATION 1. Implemented a REFORMED EDUCATION system throughout Austrian Empire, BUT… PAID HIGHER TAXESNATIONALIZED PROPERTY 2. Nobles & Catholic Church PAID HIGHER TAXES; NATIONALIZED PROPERTY of the Church ABOLISHED SERFDOM SERFS 3. REFUSED TO ABOLISHED SERFDOM – BUT, worked to improve lives of SERFS religious tolerationConsolidated Monarchy’s power * Did not allow religious toleration! Consolidated Monarchy’s power throughout Austrian Empire… (daughter Marie Antoinette) ENLIGHTENED OR NOT?

Catherine the Great Empress of Russia ( ) Joseph II * Holy Roman Emperor ( ) DIDEROT Invited DIDEROT to Russia to initiate REFORM… 1. Some religious toleration for Christians… SCHOOLS 2. Establishes SCHOOLS for nobles imprisons opponents censorship serfdom * BUT – also imprisons opponents, maintains censorship and serfdom… ended up favoring Russian nobility! SERFDOMDEATH PENALTY 1. Abolished SERFDOM & DEATH PENALTY 2. Education reforms! (textbooks, teachers) REFORMTOLERATION 3. Religious REFORM, TOLERATION alienated Church Nobility * Mostly failed reforms – alienated the Church and Nobility… I have made philosophy the lawmaker of my empire “I have made philosophy the lawmaker of my empire.” ENLIGHTENED OR NOT?

The Role of Philosophy …and the Spread of Ideas Philosophers – PHILOSOPHES – & The Enlightenment PHILOSOPHER “ An intellectual who works to discuss and solve ethical and societal problems through the application of knowledge and reason – to make society better!” …intellectuals, nobility, middle-class, European, mostly French! Philosophers wanted to STUDY SOCIETY and APPLY RATIONAL CRITICISM to it in order to make it better and improve human conditions! THINK “How did ideas and Enlightenment principles spread? Who spread the ideas and principles?” SCHOOLS & the GROWTH OF READING; LETTERS & ACADEMIC JOURNALS; COFFEE-HOUSES & SALONS These philosophes spent a great deal of energy spreading their ideas among literate society in diverse cities throughout Europe…

THE SPREAD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT Books & the Encyclopédie THE SPREAD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT The Republic of Letters PRINTING PRESS (1450s) + EDUCATION REFORM (during Enlightenment) = *LITERACY RATES INCREASE (books, magazines, journals) Intellectuals & Philosophers shared ideas through letters & ACADEMIC JOURNALS! (Diderot’s Encyclopédie, 1751 – NEW SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE)

THE SPREAD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT Parisian Salons THE SPREAD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT London Coffee Houses BOTH WERE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE “a place for social interaction outside the home and away from public authority” (openness, equality and communication) People came together to discuss Enlightenment ideas and have conversations WITHOUT REGARD TO RANK!

Women DID NOT participate in London’s Coffee Houses… Women were the CREATORS and LEADERS of the Parisian Salons! PLACES FOR LIKE-MINDED SCHOLARS TO CONGREGATE, READ, LEARN FROM AND DEBATE WITH ONE ANOTHER! In the hands of the HOSTESSES – who had the power to choose guests and deny entry! THE SPREAD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT Parisian Salons & London Coffee-Houses