World History A
Unit 5 Portfolio Directions
The Enlightenment: Enlightened Leaders Report Card
What are the qualities of an enlightened ruler? Chinese leaders sought inspiration from
the philosophy of Confucianism. Muslim rulers applied the teachings of the Quran to
their governments. Christianity and the classical teachings of Greece and Rome
influenced European emperors and kings. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
Enlightenment philosophers theorized about the ideal government. Although their views
varied, their collective works shaped modern governments.
The following ideas are a few of the most important Enlightenment principles:
• Government exists to protect the people.
• Individuals sacrifice some freedom in turn for the general good or general will.
• If the government gravely abuses its trust, the people have the right to establish
a new government.
• Tolerance of different cultures or ideas promotes justice and peace.
• Leaders should be well educated and support education and culture.
• All people have basic human rights that cannot be denied by any government.
As you read the chapters from Unit 5, review the accomplishments of each of the
following leaders. Based on the ideas you study in Chapter 10, which of these leaders
do you think best represents the ideas of the Enlightenment? Choose one leader to
evaluate.
*Note: These leaders represent a variety of the cultures you have studied this semester.
Some of the leaders pre-date or follow the Enlightenment period; your job is to decide if
their reign was beneficial to their respective empire.
Leaders:
Yong Le (Yongle), Ming Dynasty (1403–1424)
Suleyman, the Ottoman Empire (1494–1566)
Elizabeth I, England (1533–1603)
Akbar, the Mogul Empire (1542–1605)
Shah Abbas, the Safavid Empire (1588–1629)
Peter the Great, Russia (1672–1725)
Maria Theresa, Hapsburg Dynasty (1724–1780)
Frederick II (Frederick the Great), Prussia (1740–1786)
Joseph II, Austrian Empire (1741–1790)
Catherine the Great, Russia (1762–1796)
Napoleon, the French Empire (1769–1821)
Queen Victoria, Great Britain and Ireland (1819–1901)
Jhansi Ki Rani, India (1828–1858)
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Tzu-Hsi, China (1835–1908)
Part 1: 3 points
Identify the ruler you are rating and list the following:
• years of rule
• empire/area controlled by ruler
• religions practiced in empire during rule
Part 2:
For each quality, identify the actions of the ruler that support or contradict the
Enlightenment principle. 5 points per principle.
1. Protected the people: Identify at least two actions of the leader that benefited or
protected the people. Explain. Identify any actions that endangered or
compromised the well-being of the people.
2. Tolerant of other ideas and cultures within empire: Identify at least two
actions of the leader that permitted a diversity of ideas and cultural practices
within the empire. Identify any actions that reflected intolerance.
3. Interest in learning: Did the leader actively seek and promote new knowledge
for the empire’s well being? Identify at least two actions that supported culture
and learning in the empire. Identify any action that shows suppression or
intolerance of new ideas and learning.
4. Promoted equality: Identify at least two actions that reflected concern for justice
and equality within the empire. Identify any actions that may have threatened
equality and justice.
Part 3:
Recommendations: 7 points (total)
Please use complete sentences for all questions.
• If you were using a grading scale (A–F) to grade the leader’s practice of
Enlightenment principles, what grade would you give him? (1 point)
• If you could make recommendations to the ruler based on Enlightenment ideas,
what recommendations would you make? (2 points) Why? (2 points)
• Be specific in stating which philosophers or philosophies they should follow. (2
points)
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Portfolio: Part 1
Identify the Ruler
Criteria
Points
Earned
The years the selected leader ruled are identified
The empire/area controlled by ruler is described by its
boundaries
The religions practiced in the empire during the years the
ruler was in power are identified
Total:
Comments:
© 2011 Connections Academy®, LLC. All rights reserved.
Points
Possible
1 point
1 point
1 point
3 points
Portfolio: Part 2
Characteristics of the Ruler
Criteria
Points
Earned
At least two actions of the leader that benefited or
protected the people and any actions that endangered or
compromised the well-being of the people are explained
in complete sentences.
At least two actions of the leader that permitted a
diversity of ideas and cultural practices within the empire
as well as any acts that showed intolerance are
explained in complete sentences.
At least two actions that supported culture and learning
in the empire as well as any action that shows
suppression or intolerance of new ideas and learning are
explained in complete sentences.
At least two actions that reflected concern for justice and
equality within the empire as well as any actions that
may have threatened equality and justice are explained
in complete sentences.
Total:
Comments:
© 2011 Connections Academy®, LLC. All rights reserved.
Points
Possible
5 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
20 points
Portfolio: Part 3
Evaluation of the Ruler
Criteria
Points
Earned
Grade for the leader’s practice of the Enlightenment
principles
Recommendations to the ruler based on Enlightenment
ideas
Explanation of your recommendations to the ruler based
on Enlightenment ideas
Which philosophers or philosophies they should follow–
stated specifically
Total:
Comments:
© 2011 Connections Academy®, LLC. All rights reserved.
Points
Possible
1 point
2 points
2 points
2 points
7 points