Question

What are two examples of why Catherine Great was an enlightened despot?

Answer 1

Catherine the Great promoted intellectual freedom by lifting bans on political books and initiated legal reforms in Russia, reflective of her role as an enlightened despot.

Step-by-step explanation:

Catherine the Great was an enlightened despot who took significant steps towards modernizing Russia and implementing Enlightenment ideals despite maintaining strong authoritarian control. Two examples highlighting her enlightened rule include her efforts to foster a culture of intellectual debate and her attempts to reform Russian laws and governance.

Intellectual Debate and Enlightenment Philosophy

Firstly, Catherine was influenced by the Enlightenment philosophers and promoted intellectual freedom by lifting the ban on books of political theory, thus encouraging free debate. This openness to discussing ideas was critical in an era when censorship was common, signifying her embrace of Enlightenment thought.

Legal and Government Reforms

Secondly, Catherine worked towards restructuring the Russian legal system. She initiated the drafting of a new code of laws that sought to reform the justice system and governance practices, efforts which were infused with Enlightenment principles of rationality and improvement of society.

Answer 2

1. She used the ideals of the Enlightenment in order to increase the power and security of Russia.

2. Catherine improved the Russian economy through free trade, turned the country's bureaucracy into a more efficient one, and provided the people with social services such as education and health care.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hope this helps you :)