Power Progress Worksheet Power & Progress
Enlightened Absolutism & The Geography of Reform
Name:
Date:
Part 1: The 1750 Landscape
Locate and label the following major powers on the map below: Prussia, Austria, Russia, and France.
Map of Europe, c. 1750
Part 2: Mapping Reform
As you watch "Enlightened Monarchs: Crash Course European History #19" , match the specific reform or action to the correct empire. Place the letter of the reform on the corresponding nation on the map above.
A. Militarized the state (army of 200,000) while calling himself the "First Servant of the State."
B. Used the army to conduct a census and renumber houses to "see" the population.
C. Abolished serfdom and granted religious toleration to Jews (though rolled back later).
D. Summoned a legislative commission of all classes but ultimately reinforced noble privilege.
E. Expelled the Jesuits to consolidate royal power and streamline administration.
F. The *Parlements* (courts) blocked tax reforms, using the language of "liberty" to protect wealth.
Part 3: The Reform Spectrum
In the video, John Green argues that monarchs had different "Degrees of Reform." Color-code the boxes below based on the narrator's descriptions.
High Reform / High Instability
"Did too much too fast; aristocracy rebelled."
Empire: ___________
High Militarism / High Paradox
"Loved music but built a massive army; helped serfs but empowered Junkers."
Empire: ___________
Low Reform / High "Talk"
"Pals with Voltaire, built schools, but taxed the poor and kept serfdom."
Empire: ___________
Part 4: The Geography of Power
Montesquieu’s Theory of Size (from the video):
Democracies: Best suited for very small states.Monarchies: Best for mid-sized kingdoms.Despotic States: Necessary for massive empires to keep order with an "iron hand."
1. Why might an Enlightenment philosopher like Montesquieu argue that a massive empire like Russia *must* be despotic (absolute rule) rather than a democracy?
2. Look at Britain. John Green notes it was the "envy of French thinkers." What geographical or political factors allowed Britain to be "strong without being despotic"?
3. Paradox Check: In Prussia and Russia, did Enlightenment ideas actually help the peasants, or did they just help the monarchs make their states more efficient at taxing and fighting?
Reform Resistance Exit Ticket Exit Ticket
Reform & Resistance
Name:
Period:
Based on today's lesson, how does the geographic size of an empire affect its ability to implement Enlightenment reforms?
Reference the comparison between Russia (massive) and Britain (mid-sized) in your answer.
Self-Assessment
I understand the relationship between geography and government type:
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"I have made philosophy the lawmaker of my empire." — Joseph II
Enlightened Empires Slides Enlightened Empires
Geography, Power, & Paradox
Map Quiz
On your worksheet, locate and label these major powers in 1750:
Prussia
Austria
Russia
France
"Were Enlightened Monarchs actually enlightened, or just despots with better PR?"
The Ideal
Rights, Reason, Tolerance, Education
The Reality
Armies, Taxes, Control, Serfdom
The Spirit of Laws
Democracy
Best for small states (City-states)
Monarchy
Best for mid-sized kingdoms (France, Britain)
Despotism
Required for massive empires (Russia)
"Geography determines the limits of liberty."
Watch: Enlightened Monarchs
Crash Course History #19
Embedded media
Note-taking Task: Mark specific reforms on your map (Part 2).
Look For: Who was the *most* enlightened? Who was the *least*?
Prussia
Frederick the Great
Lover of music, porcelain, and French philosophy.
Called himself the "First Servant of the State."
Paradox: Militarized Prussia and strengthened the noble Junkers.
Deep Dive Discussion
"How did geography influence the type of government in Russia versus Britain?"
Russia
Massive land area, diverse cultures, and the "iron hand" needed for control.
Britain
Island geography allowed for constitutionalism and naval focus.
Reflect & Exit
Complete your Exit Ticket: Does the geographic scale of an empire make reform harder or easier?
Enlightened Empires Teacher Guide Monarch Map Facilitation Guide
Enlightened Empires • 9th-10th Grade
TEACHER RESOURCE
Duration
55 Minutes
Focus
Geo-Politics
Video Length
13:41 min
Format
Inquiry/Mapping
Lesson Narrative
This lesson examines the paradox of "Enlightened Absolutism." Students explore how 18th-century monarchs adopted Enlightenment rhetoric (reason, tolerance, progress) primarily to streamline state power, increase tax revenue, and militarize their empires. Central to this inquiry is Montesquieu’s theory of size: the idea that geographic scale dictates the level of authoritarianism required to maintain order.
Instructional Pacing
0:00-0:05
Warm-up: The 1750 Landscape
Students label Prussia, Austria, Russia, and France. Use Slide 2 to check. Note: Prussia is much smaller than students expect—this is key for Frederick's militarism.
0:05-0:20
Video Viewing & Mapping
Watch Crash Course #19. Students complete Part 2 (Matching/Mapping) on their worksheet. Recommend pausing at the end of the "Thought Bubble" (Prussia) and Catherine (Russia) to confirm locations.
0:20-0:35
Activity: The Reform Spectrum
Students color-code the empires based on the narrators' descriptions. Encourage them to use colors that represent "stability" vs "volatility."
0:35-0:45
Discussion: The Geography of Power
Use Slide 7 to prompt the class. Focus on the distinction between Britain's natural borders (island) and Russia's "boundless" frontiers.
0:45-0:55
Closure: Exit Ticket
Students synthesize the lesson on their exit ticket. Collect for formative assessment.
Answer Key
Part 2: Mapping Reform (Matching)
A (Prussia): Frederick militarized (army of 200k).B (Austria/Maria Theresa): House numbering/census.C (Austria/Joseph II): Abolished serfdom.D (Russia/Catherine): Summoned commission/kept privilege.E (Spain): Expelled Jesuits.F (France): Parlements blocked tax reform.
Part 3: The Reform Spectrum
High Reform/High Instability: Austria (Joseph II). He tried to do too much too fast and the aristocracy revolted.High Militarism/High Paradox: Prussia (Frederick the Great). Combined cultural refinement with extreme militarism.
