Enlightened Despots
by Lyndon Yeo
1. Enlightened Despotism
1.1. 18th Century
1.2. Absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational reforms.
2. Catherine the Great of Russia
2.1. Improved Administration
2.2. Pursued the policy of Westernization
2.3. Created equal protection under the law
2.3.1. Emphasized prevention of criminal acts
2.4. Created the Legislative Commission
2.5. Added a number of elementary/secondary schools
2.6. Patron to arts and sciences
3. Joseph II of the Holy Roman Empire
3.1. Expanded elementary education
3.2. Abolished serfdom
3.3. Ended press censorship
3.4. Limited the power of the Catholic Church
3.5. Protestants, Greek Orthodox, and Jews
3.5.1. Allowed to worship freely
3.6. Promoted equality and education
4. Peter the Great
4.1. Broke the power of the Boyards
4.2. Built a navy and reformed land forces
4.3. Limited the power of the nobles
4.3.1. Made them cut their long beards
4.3.2. Made them wear European-style dress
4.4. Opened up secular schools
5. Fredrick the Great of Prussia
5.1. Patron of the sciences and the arts
5.2. Standardized Prussia's justice system
5.2.1. Banned torture and arguing for a uniform national criminal code.
5.3. Supported moderate level of religious freedom.
5.4. Reorganized the Prussian government into separate ministries.
5.5. Constructed famous buildings in Berlin
5.5.1. Berlin State Opera
5.5.2. The Royal Library
5.5.3. St. Hedwig's Cathedral