1. Absolutism?
In your notebooks, write your own definition of absolutism. What does this word mean to you?

2. Who is in the painting?
What is in the background?
What message does this portrait convey?
What is the meaning?

3. Yertle the Turtle

4. Absolute Monarchs Unlimited power Controlled all aspects of society
Divine Right of Kings
Only answered to god, not his/her subject

5. Absolute vs. Enlightened Rulers
An enlightened despot - considered reforms in order to create more efficient societies, but not at the expense of their own power.
Absolutism and the Social Contract Theory
Argued about the legitimate source of political power centered on divine right
Which enlightened thinker’s ideas/beliefs does this theory conflict with?

6. Absolute Monarch = King James I
King of both England and Scotland!
A Letter to Parliament (1609)
How does King James I defend his right as king?
What 3 things does he warn parliament to avoid in the future?

7. Dear King James I!
Write a response to King James I’s letter to parliament from the perspective of one of the 6 enlightened thinkers.
Think of what he/she would think about this letter and how they would react to it.

8. Absolute or Enlightened?
You be the judge!
Vote which 18th Century monarchs you think were either absolute or enlightened rulers.

9. Peter the Great - Russia

10. Catherine the Great - Russia

11. King Phillip - Spain

12. Joseph II - Austria

13. Frederick the Great - Prussia

14. King Frederick III - Norway

15. And here are the results.

16. The Good… Catherine the Great – Russia Frederick the Great – Prussia
Joseph II - Austria

17. The Bad… King Phillip – Spain Peter the Great – Russia
King Frederick III – Norway
King Louis XIV - France

18. The Ugly…

19. How does the idea behind an absolute monarch conflict with the ideas of the enlightened thinkers?
Choose one of the ideas of the philosophes to examine this question.