Question

How is the Age of Enlightenment also the Age of Frederick? minimum of 5 sentences

Answer 1

Frederick the Great, who ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786, defended the enlightened despotism in an essay. He was an enthusiast of French ideas and invited leading French philosopher Enlightenment Voltaire to live in his palace. Frederick developed a system of indirect taxation with the help of French experts which provided the state with more revenue than direct taxation. One of Frederick's greatest achievements was grain price control, whereby government storehouses would allow civilians to survive in needy regions where the harvest was poor

Frederick modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil service, and pursued religious policies ranging from tolerance to segregation throughout his realm. While Protestantism was the preferred religion and Catholics were not chosen for higher state positions, he was essentially non-practitioner and accepted all faiths in his domain. Although Jewish citizens of the Empire protected and encouraged trade, he repeatedly expressed strong anti-Semitic sentiments. Also, he encouraged immigrants of different nationalities and religions to come to Prussia.

However, some critics point out his repressive actions against conquered Polish subjects after the Prussian Empire occupied parts of Polish territory. Following the common interest of enlightened despots, Frederick supported the arts, the philosophers he favored, and absolute freedom of the press and literature.