1. There were many impacts of the Enlightenment. One impact was enlightened despots. Enlightened despots were monarchs who retained absolute power over their nations while also enacting reform based on the principles of the Enlightenment. These monarchs were inspired by Enlightenment ideas to rule justly and respect the rights of subjects. For example in Austria, Maria Theresa reduced the lax load on peasants, provided free education, and ended censorship. Another example is in Russia, Catherine the great enacted laws for religious toleration, free education, and sought advice of nobles in running government. The positive thing about these reforms is that most outlive the monarch who enacted them.
