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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. AP European History Unit 4: Changes of the 18 th Century. Brief Overview of 18 th Century. Political Changes – focus on reform and increasing participation of the people Intellectual Changes – Scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, Increasing Education.

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment AP European History Unit 4: Changes of the 18th Century

  2. Brief Overview of 18th Century • Political Changes – focus on reform and increasing participation of the people • Intellectual Changes – Scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, Increasing Education • Cultural Changes – even more focus on the individual • Economic Changes – Shift from Mercantilism to Capitalism • Social Changes: Increased changes; rise of the gentry

  3. Centers of the Enlightenment

  4. Rationalism Cosmology – man and his role on earth and universe Secularism Scientific Method Utilitarianism 6. Tolerance 7. Optimism and Self-Confidence 8. Freedom of thought and expression 9. Education of the Masses 10. Constitutionalism Characteristics of the Enlightenment

  5. Causes of the Enlightenment • Increased Literacy • Increased Educational Opportunities • Increased wealth from international trade • Absolutism • Scientific Revolution

  6. The Philosophes • Committed to fundamental reform in society • Popularized ideas of the Enlightenment • Not professional philosophers • Progress through laws • Critical of the “Old Regime” • Main themes: Progress, Reason, Science and Civilization

  7. The enlightenment and religion

  8. Deism • Religious aspect of Enlightenment • Existence of God was rational explanation for universe • God as clockmaker • Natural law, not God’s law • Rational approach to religion

  9. Early Enlightenment Thinkers • Pierre Bayle (1647-1706) • Critical and Historical Dictionary (1697) • Complete toleration for all ideas • Freedom of religious worship • Skeptic of all things beyond rational thought • It is thus tolerance that is the source of peace, and intolerance that is the source of disorder and squabbling.

  10. Voltaire (1694-1778) • Most influential philosopher • Challenged authority of Church • Deist; emphasis on human reason • Religious toleration • Strong emphasis on social change

  11. Voltaire • “Ecracsez l’infame” – “crush the infamous thing” • Enlightened Despotism (Similar to Hobbes) • Equality of opportunity, not equality of condition • Most famous work: Candide

  12. Famous Voltaire Quips • “Every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do.” • “It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong” • “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” • “The man who persecutes another because he is not of the same opinion is nothing less than a monster.”

  13. David Hume (1711-1776) • English • The Natural History of Religion (1775) • Argued against faith in natural law • Human ideas a result of sensory experiences • Atheistic; undermined much of what the Enlightenment tried to achieve • Belief in God rested on superstition and fear rather than on reason

  14. The enlightenment and politics/government

  15. John Locke (1632-1704) Two Treatises on Government (1689) State of Nature, Natural Rights Social Contract Theory Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) Environment and education are key Tabula Rasa Knowledge through senses The Early Enlightenment

  16. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • French noble who opposed absolutism • Different systems for different people • Spirit of the Laws (1748) • Separation of powers • Checks and balances • 13 parlements to check power of king

  17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • Born in Geneva • Social Contract (1762) • Consider people, not property, in order to eradicate social injustice • General will: consensus of majority should control a nation • Individual as member of society • “Noble Savage” • Emilie (1762) • As civilizations progress, they move away from morality

  18. Edward Gibbon (1737- 1794) • The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (6 vol., 1787) • Critical of English government; religion • Considered one of first modern historians • “History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.”

  19. The Enlightenment Moves to the Americas • Thomas Paine • Common Sense (1776) • The Rights of Man (1791) • Thomas Jefferson • Ben Franklin • John Adams

  20. Denis Diderot (1713-1784) • The Encyclopedia (1765) • Political and social critiques • Popularizes views of Philosophes • Science and Reason over injustice and intolerance • Critical thought emphasized • Co-authored by Jean le Rond d’Alembert

  21. Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

  22. Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

  23. Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

  24. Subscriptions to Diderot’s Encyclopedia

  25. Women in the Enlightenment • The Salon movement • Women organize salons and take part in them (Madame de Geoffren; Madame de Staël)

  26. Mary Astell (1666-1731) A Serious Proposal to the Ladies (1697) Women need a better education than currently afforded Equality of sexes in marriage “If absolute sovereignty be not necessary in a state, how comes it to be so in a family? For if arbitrary power is evil in itself, and an improper method of governing rational and free agents, it ought not be practiced anywhere….If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?” Women in the Enlightenment

  27. Women in the Enlightenment • Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) • Founder of modern European feminism • Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) • “Would men but generously snap our chains, and be content with the rational fellowship instead of slavish obedience, they would find us more observant daughters, more affectionate sisters, more faithful wives, and more reasonable mothers – in a word, better citizens.”

  28. Jean de Condorcet (1743-1794) Progress of the Human Mind Utopian ideals 9 stages of human progress that already occurred 10th stage: perfection The Late Enlightenment

  29. The Late Enlightenment • Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Transcendentalism • Science: describes nature, not a guide for morality • Categorical Imperative: intuitive instinct placed by God in the human conscience • Reason is a function of the mind and has no content

  30. Why was the Enlightenment Successful? • Literacy rates increased dramatically • Growth of educated middle class • Increase in newspapers and magazines • Writing more accessible and easier to understand

  31. Reactions to the Enlightenment • Religious Reactions – leaders fear decline of Christian spirituality • German pietism – spiritual conversion and experiences • Methodism – England; John Wesley; “Born-again” • Jansenism – France; Catholic ideas that God is personal and involved in life • Index of Prohibited Books – several philosophes have works banned by Roman Catholic Church

  32. Impact of the Enlightenment • Emergence of secular world view • Enlightened Despotism (Prussia, Russia, Austria and France) • Revolutions • Educational reform • Capitalism

  33. AP European History Unit 4: Changes of the Eighteenth Century Enlightened Despotism

  34. What is Enlightened Despotism? • Necessary to have absolutist rulers (Hobbes) • BUT… • Absolute rulers should promote good of the people • Religious Toleration • Standardized legal codes • Increased Access to Education • Reduction of Torture and Death Penalty • Major Areas in Eighteenth Century: • Prussia • Austria • Russia • France (eventually) • Minor Examples: Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal

  35. Prussian Enlightened Despotism • Frederick the Great (Freddie II; r. 1740-1786) • Son of Frederick William I • Influence of the Enlightenment • Focus on French learning • Invited Voltaire to live in court in Berlin • Studied music and poetry

  36. Wars of Frederick the Great • War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) • Fred invades Silesia – owned by Austria • Violated Pragmatic Sanction • Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

  37. Wars of Frederick the Great • Seven Years’ War • Austria wants Silesia back • Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 • Becomes a world war – fighting amongst European powers in Europe and North America • Results: severe loss of Prussian life; disruption of Prussian society; Berlin partially destroyed; Prussia almost defeated… • Peter III (Russia) pulls out war in 1763 • Treaty of Paris (1763)

  38. How Successful was FtG? Influence on the State: • Codified laws • Civil Service Exam introduced • No capital punishment • Encourage immigration • Encourage industrial growth Influence on the People: • Religious toleration (sort of…) • Promoted education (sort of…) • Freed serfs (1763) • Reduced censorship

  39. Background - Enlightened Despotism in Austria • Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780) • Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 • Goal: improve condition of people through absolute rule • Very conservative • War of Austrian Succession

  40. Maria Theresa’s Policies • For the State: • Centralized political control • Limited power of nobility • Increased size of army • Improved tax system • Taxes and controls Catholic Church • For the People: • Freed some serfs • Reduced feudal dues • Reduced use of torture • Promotes economic development • Encouraged immigration

  41. MT is NOT an Enlightened Despot Because… • Not a fan of the Enlightenment • Did not promote religious toleration as much as the others

  42. Joseph II (r. 1780-1790) • Greatest of the Enlightened despots • Deeply influenced by Enlightenment • Ruled as regent with mother for last ten years of her life • Also served as HRE

  43. The Reforms of Joseph II • For the State • Reduced influence of Church • Reformed judicial system • German as the official language • For the People: • Abolished serfdom and feudal dues (1781) • Freedom of religion and civic rights for P. and J. • Freedom of the Press • Abolish torture • Expanded state schools • Funds hospitals, insane asylums and orphanages • Assistance to poor

  44. Problems for Joseph II • Defeated in wars against Ottoman Empire • Revolt of Austrian Netherlands • Threats from Russia • Revocation of many policies after he dies under the leadership of Leopold II

  45. Enlightened Despotism in Russia • Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796) • German, married to a Russian (Peter the III), but focused on French culture • Peter III assassinated during Seven Years’ War • Least “enlightened” of the Enlightened Despots

  46. Problems in Russia • Pugachev Rebellion (1773) • Pugachev (Cossack) led a huge serf uprising • Goals: end serfdom, taxes and army services • Murder landlords and officials • Pugachev eventually killed • Results: Catherine recognizes her need for the support of the nobility

  47. Catherine’s Reforms • For the State • Confiscate church lands • Strengthened local government led by elective council of nobles • Crown is not subject to these councils though • Territorial growth – Partition of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795) • For the People • Nobility gain complete control of the serfs • Spreads serfdom to new areas • Freed nobility from taxes • Westernization • Funds private printing presses • Limited religious toleration • Restricts practice of torture

  48. Shortcomings of Catherine’s Reforms • Only nobility and state benefitted • Serfdom becomes more severe • Hampers economic and technological development for decades to come

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