4.9: Enlightened Despots
Objective: Students will be able to compare and contrast Charles I, Louis XIV, Peter I, Maria Theresa, Joseph II, Frederick II, and Catherine II and identify patterns in both enlightened and despotic behaviors from each by ranking them from despotic to enlightened based on information learned from a combination of the reading of secondary source and through discussions with other students.
Vocabulary: despot, parliament, absolutism
Directions:
Directions:
- Get a copy of this worksheet
- Start by paraphrasing the following definitions for the vocabulary in this lesson (on the 2nd page of the worksheet)
- despot: a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.
- parliament: the lawmaking branch of many democratic governments. Countries that currently have parliamentary systems include Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
- absolutism: the belief that a country should be ruled by a monarch or dictator with total control
- Complete the graphic organizer on the front by identifying despotic and enlightened behaviors of the seven chosen enlightened despots. For this you will need to understand what despotic and enlightened behavior is like. Despotic behavior would include acts that illustrate the absolute power and control of the monarch. Enlightened behavior would reflect ideas inspired by the Enlightenment, which can include democratic reforms and concepts of natural rights. I am assigning a lot for you to read, but try not to get bogged down in the text, but instead focus on finding evidence of despotic and enlightened behavior. Write brief descriptions of this behavior in the graphic organizer.
- Complete the scale on the back of the handout by ranking the monarchs from despotic to enlightened. Make sure you explain your choices.