Eastern Absolutism, also known as Enlightened Absolutism or Despotism, refers to a form of monarchical rule in Eastern European countries during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Its features include:
1. Centralized Power: Monarchs held absolute authority and concentrated power in their hands.
2. Limited Reforms: Some rulers implemented limited reforms to modernize and strengthen their states, often influenced by Enlightenment ideals.
3. State Control: The state exercised strong control over the economy, trade, and administration, aiming to enhance the country’s wealth and power.
4. Patronage and Enlightenment: Rulers patronized arts, sciences, and education, embracing Enlightenment ideas while maintaining absolute rule.
5. Autocratic Rule: The ruler’s will was law, with limited checks on their power, and little to no representation or participation by the general populace.
