Question

why was the term “enlightened despot” appropriate to describe rulers such as joseph the second and Catherine the Great

Answer 1

They were enlightened despots because if their tolerance to the enlightenment ideals of the time. Cathrine the great mondernized Russia in a way that reflected the western world. She also financed education for women, museums, and Russian art. Cathrine would also have long talks with Voltaire and would allow the power of the nobility to be limited.