The Enlightenment in Europe

Section 2 Enlightenment in Europe Main Idea: A revolution in intellectual activity changed Europeans’ view of government and society Why it matters now: The various freedoms enjoyed in many countries today are a result of Enlightenment thinking.

The Enlightenment Philosophers applied reason to all aspects of society Also known as the Age of Reason Scientific revolution spurs re-examination of society during the 1600s and 1700s Thomas Hobbes- Social Contract People are selfish and ambitious Should submit to an authoritarian ruler to prevent disorder John Locke- Natural Rights Government exists to protect inalienable rights If the government doesn’t protect them the people can change government

French philosophes are social critics in mid-1700s Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, liberty Voltaire AKA Francois Marie Arouet Used satire to fight for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious beliefs and speech Baron de Montesquieu Favors separation of powers between 3 branches Jean Jaques Rousseau Legitimate government come from the consent of the governed Believed in direct democracy

Cesare Beccaria Wants to reform the justice system Calls for speedy trials and criminal rights Women and the Enlightenment Many thinkers take traditional view of women’s role Mary Wollstonecraft argues for women’s rights Women need education to be virtuous Women should enter male professions Some wealthy women use status to spread Enlightenment values Disagreed with Rousseau

Legacy of the Enlightenment Philosophes not activists, but inspire revolutions Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society Increased secular outlook New knowledge leads people to question religious beliefs Importance of individual Emphasis on individual rights and accomplishments

Over a few decades Enlightenment writers challenged long-held ideas Divine right of monarchs The Union of the church and state Unequal Social Class Enlightenment thinkers promoted long-term beliefs shaped Western Civilization Reason took the center stage for the Enlightenment

The End Quiz A Quiz B

Quiz A

1 - What term best describes John Locke’s belief that a government’s power comes from the people and is formed to protect human being’s right to life, liberty and property?

2 - Which French Enlightenment writer believed governmental power should be divided among three branches in order to keep any individual or group from gaining total control of the government?

3 - One of the most persuasive women writers during the Enlightenment was Mary Wollstonecraft who disagreed with Rousseau that a woman’s what should not be secondary to a man’s?

4 - Over a span of a few decades, which type of writers challenged long- held ideas about the divine right of monarchs, the union of church and state, and unequal social class?

5 - Which revolutionary scientist described a single theory of motion and that every object in the universe attracts every other subject and the degree of attraction depends on the mass of an object?

6 - What term describes the belief by Aristotle, the Christian church, and most scholars during the middle ages, that the earth was the center of the universe?

7 - The age of European exploration and the Printing Press helped spread challenging ideas that fueled a great deal of scientific research in what two fields?