Enlightenment Ideas Spread Chapter 2 Section 2

Focus Question As Enlightenment ideas spread across Europe, what cultural and political changes took place?

New Ideas Challenge Society Writers faced censorship Governments and churches to secure order would censor information Burning books & imprisoning writers To avoid censorship Montesquieu and Voltaire would disguise their work as fiction.

New Ideas Challenge Society Cont. Ideas Spread in Salons Informal gatherings, usually in homes, where philosophy, art, & literature would be discussed. Madame Geoffrin ran one of the most respected salons. Mozart would play for her guests.

Arts and Literature Reflect New Ideas From Grandeur to Charm The move from Louis XIV baroque style to Louis the XV rococo style of art and architecture. The Baroque style was large, colorful, and portrayed battles or lives of saints Rococo was lighter, elegant, and charming. Was criticized as being superficial

Art and Literature Reflect New Ideas Continued Enlightenment Inspires Composers When moving from Baroque to Rococo the music style known as “Classical” followed. Composers such as Bach, Handel and Mozart became popular Opera houses, Ballets, plays set to music were all popular amongst the royal courts

Example of Baroque Art Picture by Rembrandt

Example of Rococo Style

Art and Literature Reflect New Ideas Continued The Novels Take Shape by 1700’s literature found a wider audience with the middle class. Outpouring of novels, long works fiction emerged Robinson Crusoe by Defoe was about a shipwrecked sailor on a tropical Island

Enlightenment Despots Embrace New Ideas Enlightenment despots were absolute rulers that used their power to create social or political change Frederick II (Frederick the Great) –King of Prussia 1740-1786 saw himself as “first servant of the state” Frederick II openly praised Voltaire's work Reduced the use of torture & allowed free press

Catherine the Great studies Philosophes’ Works Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia (1762) read the work of philosophers and exchanged letters with Voltaire & Diderot She believed in the ideas of equality and liberty She abolished torture and established religious tolerance

Joseph II Continues Reform Son of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Was the most radical of Enlightenment Despots He would travel in disguises to learn of problems. Supported religious equality for Protestants and Jews in a Catholic Empire Allowed free press, abolished serfdom

Lives of the Majority Change Slowly Most Europeans were untouched by either courtly or middle class. Most remained peasants living in small villages By the late 1700’s radical ideas about equality and social justice reached their villages By 1800’s war, political upheaval, & economic conditions will transform peasant life in Europe.