1. The Enlightenment Spreads

2. France Made it illegal to criticize the Catholic Church or the government –Many philosophes landed in jail or were exiled

3. Encyclopedia A large set of books created by Diderot Many philosophes contributed articles and essays The Encyclopedia as well as salons helped spread Enlightenment ideas to educated people all over Europe Soon ideas were being spread to the growing middle class through newspapers, pamphlets, and political songs

4. Enlightened Despots Monarchs who embraced the new ideas and made reforms that reflected the Enlightenment ideas Supported the philosophes’ ideas, but had no intention of giving up any power

5. Enlightened Despots, cont. Changes they made were motivated by two desires: –They wanted to make their own countries stronger –They wanted to make their own rule more effective

6. Frederick the Great King of Prussia from 1740-1786 Committed himself to reforming Prussia –Granted many religious freedoms, reduced censorship, improved education, reformed the justice system, and abolished the use of torture –Believed that serfdom was wrong, but did nothing to end it

7. Frederick the Great, cont. “First servant of the state” –Known most for his attitude on being king –His goal was to serve and strengthen his country

8. Joseph II Ruled Austria from 1780-1790 Most radical reformer Introduced legal reforms, freedom of the press, and freedom of worship (even for Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and Jews)

9. Joseph II, cont. Abolished serfdom and ordered that peasants be paid for their labor with cash Nobles resisted the change This reform was undone after his death

10. Catherine the Great Ruled Russia from 1762-1796 Ruler most admired by the philosophes She ruled with absolute authority, but also sought to reform Russia

11. Catherine the Great, cont. Formed a commission to reform Russia’s laws –Based on the ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria –Recommended allowing religious tolerance and abolishing torture and capital punishment Commission did not accomplish any of these goals

12. Catherine the Great, cont. She did little to improve the life of peasants, so there was a massive uprising of serfs –Very brutal –Catherine’s army crushed the rebellion –The uprising changed her views on the Enlightenment idea of abolishing serfdom –She ended up giving the nobles absolute power over the serfs

13. Catherine Expands Russia Her army won control of the north shore of the Black Sea Gained the right to send ships through Ottoman-controlled straits leading from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea Expanded her empire westward into Poland