1. The Enlightenment

2. What was the Enlightenment?
The Age of Reason
Late 1600s- 1800s
Change of society through reason
Challenged faith, tradition, and the Catholic Church
Began to apply philosophy to politics and the arts
Closely tied to the Scientific Revolution

3. Enlightened Absolutism
Frederick the Great (Prussia)
Catherine the Great (Russia)
Joseph II (Austria)
Leaders began to bring in Enlightened thinkers to change and reform governments

4. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) English Wrote Leviathan
Social Contract theory
Rights of the individual
Natural equality for all men

5. John Locke (1632-1704) English Tabula Rasa
Knowledge is derived from experience
Two Treatises of Government
Life, health, liberty, and possessions
Civil liberty and government to resolve conflicts

6. Montesquieu (1689-1755) French Division of state Separation of Power
Divided classes in France
Monarchy, aristocracy, and commons
Division of governments
Monarchy, republic, dictators

7. Voltaire (1694-1778) French Fought for civil rights of the people
Fair trial, freedom of religion, separation of church and state
Challenged the established French government

8. Rousseau (1712-1778) Swiss/French Social Contract Direct democracy
Enter into a social contract to preserve and offer freedom
Direct democracy
Sovereignty (Right to make laws) should be with the people

9. Social Changes Literacy rates increased
More people were encouraged to learn and think for themselves
The importance of the arts was stressed
Mozart and other composers began becoming popular, gained audiences, and made money for their works and performances