1. “Siecle de Lumiere” “The Century of Light”
The Enlightenment
“Siecle de Lumiere”
“The Century of Light”
Erica Kelley
Orchard Knob Middle School

2. What was the Enlightenment?
“A period during the 1700s in which many Europeans began to break away from tradition and rethink political and social norms”

3. Key Ideas Distrust of Tradition and Religion
Scientific method could be applied to society as well
Society can get better
Humans are naturally good
Good life is on earth

4. Roots of the Enlightenment
Greeks and Romans Christianity Scientific Revolution Renaissance and Reformation

5. Greeks and Romans Belief in natural order Observation of life
Major thinkers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

6. Christianity Faith and Reason can work together
Major thinker: Thomas Aquinas, Thomas More

7. Renaissance Humanism Focus on the individual
Question authority of the Catholic Church
Reformation idea of religious tolerance

8. Scientific Revolution
Focus on rationalism
New scientific method
Scientific methods and reason applied to society and politics

9. Which of the following ideas from the Greeks and Romans influenced the Enlightenment?
A. Class difference is the basis of social order
B. Religious faith is the source of knowledge
C. Human reason is the key to understanding the world
D. Absolute monarchy is the best form of government

10. Problems in England Parliament vs. the king:
1520s: King Charles refused to accept limits on his power. Led to civil war and his execution
1688: King James II opposed Parliament trying to limit his power: went into exile
1689: William and Mary come to power in the “Glorious Revolution”

11. The Glorious Revolution
Resulted in England being a Constitutional Monarchy
Created “Bill of Rights”
Monarchy must follow the laws made by Parliament
English people now had a right to a jury trial, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment

12. English Enlightenment Thinkers

13. Thomas Hobbes
Shocked by the execution of King Charles Supported the monarchy Humans are naturally selfish and violent and live in a primitive “state of nature” Humans cannot make wise decisions Powerful leader (king) needed to maintain order and control

14. John Locke Inspired by Glorious Revolution
Government has to answer to its citizens
People have natural rights
Government should be based on a social contract: agreement between a government and its people

15. Which event was most influenced by John Locke’s idea of natural rights
A. Renaissance
B. Reformation
C. American Revolution
D. Scientific Revolution

16. The French “Philosophes”
18th century French intellectuals
Interest in addressing a broad audience
Committed to reform
Celebrated the scientific revolution
Science applied to society

17. VI. The Role of the Salon
Discussions/Parties held by French aristocratic women in their private drawing rooms
Feminine influence on the Enlightenment

18. Denis Diderot’s Encyclopedie
Written between
Attempted to illustrate all human knowledge (art, science, religion, etc.)
Supported idea of freedom of religion
Supported fairness in society

19. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
The Spirit of the Laws (1748)
Political power should be shared among classes
Argued for Separation of Powers
Admired British government
Influence in France and US

20. Voltaire (1694-1778) Enthusiasm for English institutions
Wrote plays, essays, and novels
Supported freedom of religion
Deism: religion based on reason (God set everything in motion and then natural law set in)

21. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Swiss
Government should be based on the will of the people
Wrote The Social Contract
What society wants should be law

22. Immanuel Kant ( )
One of few philosophes to live to see the French Revolution
Enlightenment was a personal process—release from immaturity
More optimistic than Rousseau
“Dare to Know”— Enlightenment was an act of personal courage

23. All of the following were thinkers of the Enlightenment except:
A. Jean-Jaques Rousseau
B. John Wycliffe
C. John Locke
D. Thomas Hobbes

24. Absolute Monarchs
Kings and Queens that ruled with absolute (total) power
Despot-a ruler with absolute power (often rules in a cruel way)
Some incorporated Enlightenment ideas during their reign (period of time they ruled)

25. Louis XIV of France: “Sun King”
Ruled from (72 years)
Built Versailles (MASSIVE palace outside of Paris)
Revoked Treaty of Nantes (gave freedom of religion to French protestants called Huguenots)
Fought numerous wars
Depleted French treasury

26. German Leaders Austria and Prussia were largest Germanic states
Frederick the Great (Prussia): more freedom of speech and religious tolerance
Marie Theresa (Austria): reforms include improved living conditions for serfs and setting up schools
Joseph II (Austria): tried to free the serfs and make taxes equal. Nobles forced him to back down

27. The Russian Czars Peter the Great: ruled 1682-1725
Turned Russia from a Tsardom into an EMPIRE
Expanded land
Cultural revolution based on scientific and modern reforms
Catherine the Great: ruled
Tried to free the serfs (changed her mind after rebellion)
Supported Enlightenment ideas
Further expanded Russia land and strengthened military

28. Mercantilism Countries compete for limited resources
Found colonies that could provide resources
Take what is needed from a colony to increase the wealth of the mother country

29. Mercantilism

30. Characteristics of Mercantilism

31. European View of Mercantilism