Name ____________________ Date ___________ Per ____ Enlightened or Absolute Monarchs Notes

Enlightened or Traditional Absolute Monarchs? We learned that King Louis XIV was an absolute monarch obsessed with obtaining more power

for himself. In many ways, he changed the government to look more modern. Many other rulers in Europe were absolute monarchs just like him who made their governments and countries much stronger. However, some were what is called an “ENLIGHTENED MONARCH”. ENLIGHTENED MONARCHS were kings or queens who did not think their power to rule came from God, but from the people. They still took absolute control over their country, but believed they were making it better for their people. For this activity, you will list in what ways these leaders had a positive impact on their countries, and which had a negative. Then, you will decide if he/she was an Enlightened Absolute Monarch or a Traditional Absolute Monarch.

ENLIGTHENED TRAITS: spread education, listen to the people, spend $ on the people and not themselves.

Positive NegativeFrederick the Great of

Prussia

Circle one: Traditional or Enlightened?

(king servant of state, although he is greedy at

times. He is good for people: new farming, gains $ for wars to rebuild govt.

and judicial system)

Improved government to make it more efficient

Brought in well-known govt. reformers to act as advisors – like Voltaire.

Built new public buildings – opera houses etc.

Improved economy by taking Silesia (resource rich land) and improving farming techniques

Improved judicial system built govt. courts, and stop bribes by getting paid large amounts of moneyImproved military, doubled territory of PrussiaRebuilds 15,000 cities immediately after war

Centralizing power around himself - not sharing

Worsened relations with other countries through war

Grew increasing paranoid as grew older and had a system of spies

Peasants suffer through wars – 15,000 cities destroys

Maria Theresa of Austria

Circle one: Traditional or Enlightened?

Drawn into military wars- not starting themselves.

Very moral and different – tried to create a better life

for her people by giving jobs.

Very intelligent and educated in many languages and history, very charming.

Created very well trained and loyal govt. officials

Gave lower class people jobs in govt.

Protects Austria from outside invasion

Fights corruption in Catholic Church

Strict Catholic- religiously intolerant. Started chastity commission that would arrest women for walking down street by themselves

Looses land Silesia (resource rich) because she has not military training.

Ivan the IV

Circle one: Traditional or Enlightened?

Expanded the empire

1st man to call himself Czar (Caesar)

Brings in muskets and gunpowder from Europe

Creates council to help the leader gives advice

Marries Russian Women so people will like he’s not marrying foreigners

Paranoid mentality - mom and dad poisoned by nobles. These nobles abuse him growing up.

Secret police

Becomes bad leader after his wife is supposedly poisoned by his council.

Fed his enemies to animals. Torturer of women and animals.

POSITVE NEGATIVEPeter I of Russia Used his intimidating height 6’7” to

bring great power to himself

Invented new military practices

Took over vast amounts land – tripled size of Russia He made his peasants act as

Circle one: Traditional or Enlightened?

Made Russia powerful by using Europe as model – gave rewards for people

doing good job – took over land to make his country

stronger-

Dies saving the lives of his soldiers.

Increased education

Strong army and navy

Gets warm water port to help trade and thus increases economy

Took land from Sweden – built St. Petersburg

Supported science and technology – brought new ideas from Europe

Brought potatoes which boosted population

1st newspaper

Gave women rights

slaves with forced labor

Made everyone in his country dress more European and shave their beards

Up to 100,000 might have died building St. Petersburg

Raised taxes which caused people to revolt – he killed& tortured to stop it

Killed own son

Catherine II of Russia

Circle one: Traditional or Enlightened?

Born in Germany from poor noble family, but very naturally intelligent and gets educated by a Huguenot

Changed from Protestant to Eastern Orthodox Christian

When she takes power, she begins to educate herself on Voltaire and other govt. reformers.

Fixes military, builds school for girls, great patron of the arts

Charms nobles to win their support

Ends worse forms of tortureSlightly religiously tolerant

Translates European works into Russian, builds new schools

Killed her own husband

Strict censorship of press – jailed people for speaking against govt.

In the end, does not make radical changes to govt. to fix it for the better

Gives special privileges to nobles – free from taxes or serving in the military

Violently oppresses rebellions