Log inSign up for FREE
Library

Enlightenment Reading

Last updated about 5 years ago
19 questions
The Enlightenment in Europe
KEY IDEA A revolution in intellectual activity changed Europeans’ view of government and society.
New ways of thinking arose in other areas.
· In the intellectual movement called the Enlightenment, thinkers tried to apply reason and scientific method to laws that shaped human actions.
· They hoped to build a society founded on ideas of the Scientific Revolution.
· Two English writers were important to this movement.
1. Thomas Hobbes wrote that without a government, there would be a war of “every man against every man.” As a result, Hobbes said, people formed a social contract—an agreement—in which they gave up their rights so they could secure order and safety. The best government, he said, is that of a strong king who can force people to obey.
2. John Locke believed that all people have natural rights or those of the rights to life, liberty, and property. The purpose of government is to protect those rights. When it fails to do so, he said, people have a right to overthrow the government.
· A group of French thinkers, known as philosophes had wide influence. They had five main beliefs:
1. thinkers can find the truth by using reason;
2. what is natural is good and reasonable, and human actions are shaped by natural laws;
3. acting according to nature can bring happiness;
4. by taking a scientific view, people and society can make progress and advance to a better life; and
5. by using reason, people can gain freedom.
· Three key French thinkers of this time were:
1. Voltaire wrote against intolerance and criticized the laws and customs of France. He advocated freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
2. Baron de Montesquieu made a long study of laws and governments. He thought government power should be separated into different branches. Each should be able to check the other branches to prevent them from abusing their power.
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote strongly in favor of human freedom. He wanted a society in which all people were equal.
· The Italian Cesare Beccariawrote about crime and justice. Trials should be fair, he said, and punishments should be made to fit the crime.
· Many Enlightenment thinkers held traditional views about women’s place in society.
· They urged equal rightsfor all men but ignored the fact that women did not enjoy such rights.
· Some women protested this unfairness. “If all men are born free,” wrote one, “how is it that all women are born slaves?”
· Enlightenment ideas had strong influence on the American and French Revolutions, which came at the end of the 1700’s. They had three other effects.
1. They helped spread the idea of progress.
2. By using reason, people thought, it is possible to make society better. These ideas also helped make Western society more secular—that is, more-worldly and less spiritual.
3. Finally, Enlightenment ideas promoted the notion that the individual person was important.
6
Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Cesare Beccaria
Believed that people gave up rights in return for saftey and order; Best gov is a strong king who can force obedience
Voltaire
Believed people have natural rights, government's job is to protect natural rights, people should overthrow governments that do not protect those rights
Thomas Hobbes
Believed in Freedom of Speech and Religion
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Believed government should be separtated into 3 branches, so no one becomes too powerful. Checks and balances
Baron de Montesquieu
Wanted a society were all men are equal
John Locke
Argued for a fair criminal justice system
1

How were Enlightenment thinkers influenced by the Scientific Revolution?

1

Why do people give up individual rights in Hobbes’ view of government?

1

According to Locke, what must the people do if the government fails to protect their rights?

1

What was the goal of Enlightenment thinkers?

1

Why did Montesquieu believe a system of checks and balances was best for government?

1

What does the writer mean when he says “Many Enlightenment thinkers held traditional views about women’s place in society”?

The Enlightenment Spreads
KEY IDEA Enlightenment ideas spread through the Western world, and influenced the arts and government.
· In the 1700s, Paris was the cultural center of Europe. People came there from other countries in Europe and from the Americas to hear the new ideas of the Enlightenment. Writers and artists gathered in the homes of wealthy people to talk about ideas - - these gatherings became known as salons.

· A woman named Marie-Thérèse Geoffrinbecame famous for hosting these discussions. She also supplied the money for one of the major projects of the Enlightenment.

With her funds, Denis Diderot and other thinkers wrote and published a huge set of books called the Encyclopedia. Their aim was to gather together all that was known about the world.

The French government and officials in the Catholic Church did not like many of the ideas that were published in the Encyclopedia. They banned the books at first, but later they revoked the ban. Through the meetings in homes and works like the Encyclopedia, the ideas of the Enlightenment spread throughout Europe.

· The ideas also spread to the growing middle class. This group of people was becoming wealthy but had less social status than nobles and had very little political power. Ideas about equality sounded good to them.

· Art moved in new directions, inspired by the Enlightenment ideas of order and reason. Artists and architects worked to show balance and elegance. This neoclassical art paid tribute to the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece by incorporating architectural elements like grand columns into new construction or by using Roman and Greek mythology as inspiration for their art.

· Composers wrote music of great appeal for their creative richness.

· In this period, the novel became a popular form of literature. This new form told lengthy stories with many twists of plot that explored the thoughts and feelings of characters.

· Some Enlightenment thinkers believed that the best form of government was a monarchy. In it, a ruler respected the rights of people. They tried to influence rulers to rule fairly. Rulers followed these ideas in part but were unwilling to give up much power. These types of rulers were called enlightened despots.

· Frederick the Great made changes in Prussia. He gave his people religious freedom, improved schooling, and reformed the justice system. However, he did nothing to end serfdom, which made peasants slaves to the wealthy landowners.
· Joseph II of Austria did end serfdom. Once he died, though, the nobles who owned the land were able to undo his reform.
· Catherine the Great of Russia was another of the rulers influenced by Enlightenment ideas. She tried to reform Russia’s laws but met resistance. She hoped to end serfdom, but a bloody peasants’ revolt convinced her to change her mind. Instead, she gave the nobles even more power over serfs. Catherine did manage to gain new land for Russia. Russia, Prussia, and Austria agreed to divide Poland among themselves. As a result, Poland disappeared as a separate nation for almost 150 years.
5
Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Marie-Thérèse Geoffrin
hosted salon parties and financed the work of philosophes
Catherine the Great
Created the first Encyclopedias
Denis Diderot
leader of Prussia. Gave religious freedom, improved schools and justice system. Did not end serfdom.
Joseph II
Tried to end serfdom in Austria, but the nobles undid his reforms after Joseph II died.
Frederick the Great
wanted to end serfdom in Russia, but gave nobles even more power over serfs once the peasants tried to rebel.
1

What set of books were banned by the Catholic Church because they contained dangerous information?

3

Which countries took over parts of Poland, making it disappear for almost 150 years?

1

Upload a picture of Thomas Hobbes

1

Upload a quote from Thomas Hobbes

1

Explain what that quote means in your own words.

1

Upload a picture of John Locke

1

Upload a quote from john Locke

1

Explain what that quote means in your own words.

1

Upload a picture of Voltaire

1

Upload a quote from Voltaire

1

Explain what that quote means in your own words.