I. Absolutism

A. Fundamental enlightenment belief – change should come from a benevolent monarch

B. Enlighten the monarch, not the people – “enlightened absolutism”

C. Western states claimed to be enlightened (ie. Denmark)

D. More so, the east was enlightened – Prussia, Russia, Austria

II. Prussia

A. Frederick the Great – son and rebel

B. Aggressive king attacks Maria Theresa of Austria, gets Silesia (map p. 572)

C. Seven Years War – attacked from all directions, Russia’s Peter III calls off

D. Effects of war – was more Machiavellian but became more humbled/liberal

E. Reforms – religiously tolerant, free thinking is okay, laws simplified, no torture, quick trials, honesty, rebuild the nation

F. Non-reforms – Jews discriminated against, despite Moses Mendelssohn, ghettos, prohibited from businesses, kicked out

III. Catherine the Great

A. German princes, mismatch marriage, well-read on enlightenment

B. Lover boyfriend/conspirator!

C. Absolute monarchy is the best!

D. Reforms – bring western ideas in (Encyclopedia), laws, no torture, religious toleration, education

E. Crushed peasant revolt of Pugachev – her lesson was that serfs were dangerous and her action was to give nobles total control and privileges

F. Conquest of Poland

IV. Austria

A. Maria Theresa and son Joseph II. Seek to reform after War of Austrian Succession

B. Reforms – limit pope’s influence, reduce power of lords over serfs, religious toleration, civic rights to Protestants and Jews

V. France

A. nobility made a come-back after Louis XIV

B. specifically, the right to tax was won back

C. Louis XV, a lover and fickle ruler

D. Louis XVI, soft ruler whose softness (amongst other things) ushered in French Revolution