Key Concepts Review

Topic 4.6 – Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power

Objective #1

Explain how different forms of political power were influenced by Enlightenment thought from 1648 to
1815.

Historical Developments

 In the 18th century, a number of states in eastern and central Europe experimented with
enlightened absolutism.
 By 1800, most governments in western and central Europe had extended toleration to Christian
minorities and, in some states, civil equality to Jews.

Thinking Skill? Causation Change/Continuity Comparison

Define enlightened absolutism.

Monarch (Who? When? Where?) What did they do that was Enlightened?
Maria Theresa carried out lasting reforms, establishing
1717-1780 elementary schools, breaking the Jesuit
. only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions monopoly on education, and removing
and the last of the House of Habsburg. universities from Church control
.  sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia,
Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan,
Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands,
and Parma

Joseph II gave minority religions, such as Protestants,

.  1741-1790
. Holy Roman Emperor from August 1765 and
sole ruler of the Habsburg lands
. eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her
husband, Emperor Francis I, and the brother of
Marie Antoinette.
Greek Orthodox and Jews, the ability to live and
worship more freely. Joseph was considered an
"enlightened despot," and his reforms were
open-minded, to a point.

Frederick William I military victories, his reorganization of Prussian

. 1688-1740 armies, his patronage of the arts and
. known as the "Soldier King" the Enlightenment and his final success against
.  King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg great odds in the Seven Years' War.
. succeeded by his son, Frederick the Great.

Frederick II modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil

AP European History
 Key Concepts Review
Topic 4.6 – Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power
 ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until service and pursued religious policies throughout
1786 his realm that ranged from tolerance to
. Longest reign segregation. Following the common interest
among enlightened despots, he supported arts,
philosophers that he favored, and complete
freedom of the press and literature
Catherine the Great improved the Russian economy through free
. known as Catherine the Great, trade, turned the country's bureaucracy into a
. from 1762 until 1796 more efficient one, and provided the people with
. came to power following a coup d'état that she social services such as education and health care
organised—resulting in her husband, Peter III,
being overthrown.

Objective #2

Explain how and why political and religious developments challenged or reinforced the idea of a unified
Europe from 1648 to 1815.

Historical Developments

 As a result of the Holy Roman Empire’s limitation of sovereignty in the Peace of Westphalia,
Prussia rose to power, and the Habsburgs, centered in Austria, shifted their empire eastward.

Description of the Peace of Westphalia:

1648

largely ended the European wars of religion, including the Thirty Years' War

What was the effect of the Peace of Westphalia on Prussia?

From 1640, Brandenburg-Prussia had started to rise under the Great Elector, Frederick William.
The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 strengthened it even further, through the acquisition of East
Pomerania

What was the effect of the Peace of Westphalia on Austria?

strengthening the family's control in the hereditary lands from the Tirol to Austria and in Bohemia and
this leads, in 1689, to Austrian involvement in the war of the Grand Alliance.

AP European History