French Enlightenment

1. French Enlightenment • all about Baron de Montesquieu

2. Life • Born on January 19th, 1689 at La Bréde, near Bordeaux, to a rich family of a high social class. • He received a law degree from the University of Bordeaux in 1708. • Inherited much of his land and his title from dead relatives (father and uncle, respectively)

3. Claim to Nobility • Inherited the title of Baron de La Bréde et de Montesquieu and the office of Président á Mortier in the Parlement of Bordeaux

4. Accomplishments Overview • Social commentator • Popularized terms “feudalism” and “Byzantine Empire” • Political thinker • Articulated theory of separation of powers for the first time

5. Lettres Persanes • Gained literary success with his Persian Letters, a novel satirizing the absurdities of contemporary society. • Led to more publications and opened the doors for more radical commentary

6. Politics • Divided French society into three classes (trias politica was the phrase he coined): the monarchy, aristocracy, and commons • Two types of governmental power: sovereign and administrative • Administrative: legislative, executive, judiciary • Separate from, but dependent upon, each other • In essence, erased the concept of a feudalistic structure

7. Politics • Three main forms of government, each supported by social “principle” • Monarchies: rely on Honor • Republics: rely on Virtue • Despotisms: rely on Fear • (The free governments depend on fragile constitutional arrangements) • Key lies in Liberty sustained by a balance of powers • HUGE influence on modern governments, particularly in America and, less so, in Western Europe.

8. The Weirdest Idea Ever • Meteorological Climate Theory: • Climate influences nature of man and society • Some climates are superior because they yield better temperaments • Warm countries have people with hot tempers. Cold countries have “icy” and “stiff” people. • France has the best climate, and so the best people

9. The Weirdest Idea Ever • People don’t usually believe this anymore.