Nicholas Wisdom 2/enlightened despotism vs absolutism

eastern Europe is very poor, and the majority of people are

serfs

poverty is worsening by the 18th century because they are

cut off from the Atlantic

Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II of the Hapsburg Empire want to improve based on the

western enlightenment

by the 18th century, the Holy Roman Empire, and elective office, and the Hapsburg Empire are politically

archaic

in a time of

absolutism, divine right

Charles VI dies at the beginning of the 18th century with no children, but he wants Maria Theresa to succeed him, so he

cuts deals

this makes the empire

weak

War of Austrian Succession 1740 sees the involvement of France, simply in order to

maneuver diplomatically for an advantage

war being noble doesn’t really start happening as an idea until the

French Revolution

Maria weakens her own throne, and nobles can now leverage power, creating an

appetite for reform - it’s no way to rule

Joseph II is co-emperor for a time and is pro

Enlightenment

he puts a cap on how much lords can demand of

serfs in dues

he regularizes

taxation - flat tax

dues by serfs are now not just payable in labor, but in

cash

this means that

they can work debt off faster

he expels this order

Jesuits

it’s important to expel the jesuits because they

are usually at odds with rulers and answer only to the pope

he seizes jesuit property to use for

schools

he decides that no papal bull can be decreed in the empire without

the emperor’s say so

this is a bid for

the superiority of secular government

emancipation of the Jews shows

religious toleration

marriage becomes

civil

Frederick the Great becomes a

mason at the masonic lodge

he begins a national

education system

and creates the

Prussian Law Code

natural religion - was the enlightenment innately religious?

French was, Britain’s was not. understanding and proving God through creation