Commentary on the Time Period -Part Three

Frederick the Great of Prussia

Catherine the Great of Russia

In addition to the Enlightenment values, there are a variety of international wars, social changes,and distinct European states in the eighteenth century. New ideas and new practices emerge as the demographic, economic, and social patterns begin to change and reflect a new modern order. My policies, I discovered are the only avenues to true radical change based on the Enlightenment.Other Enlightened rulers such as Catherine the Great of Russia and Frederick the Great are known as the "disciples of the Enlightenment", whose policies were merely tangential in regards to the Enlightenment terms and their system based on the Enlightenment ideals had not truly reformed their states. Nevertheless, Frederick the Great of Prussia and Catherine the Great of Russia still pursued Enlightenment doctrines although not as significant as to what I have done as ruler of Austria. Frederick the Great, one of the best-educated and cultured monarchs of the eighteen century is extremely intelligent in Enlightenment thought and he pursued his intellectual activities despite his father's growing opposition of his pursuits. For some time, I heard, Frederick was willing to pursue reforms based on the Enlightenment ideals such as creating a single code of laws and eliminating the abuses of murder cases. Frederick the Great also issued decrees that limited freedom and speech and advocated complete religious toleration. Catherine the Great on the other hand was initially eager for reform and social,political change. She expressed her ideas in her Instruction that served as a guide or a code based on the Enlightenment principles. Catherine's work however, produced little to no change and eventually Catherine abandoned her pursuits and made equality an extinction. However, there were political and social realities that limited reform. One example of a political and social reality includes the eminent international wars that took places in the eighteenth century.