1. Aim: Would you have agreed with the Enlightenment thinkers?
Do Now: Is there anything that is beyond the power of the human mind?

2. I What was the Enlightenment?
The Scientific Revolution (16-17th centuries) allowed for the understanding of universal natural laws in science, such as the existence of gravity.
By the early 18th century, a revolution in human thinking began called the Enlightenment. Thinkers of the Enlightenment (philosophes) set out to find natural laws that govern human behavior to solve the problems of society. They believed that nothing is beyond the reach of the human mind.

3. II Hobbes vs. Locke
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were both 17th century English philosophes. They came to different conclusions about human nature and the role of government.
“During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.”
- Thomas Hobbes
“All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.” – John Locke

4. Thomas Hobbes John Locke
Wrote the Leviathan
Believed people to be naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.
The best form of government is an absolute monarchy, that can impose order and obedience.
Wrote Two Treatises of Government
Believed people to be naturally moral
All people are born with natural rights, including the right to life, liberty and property
People need to form governments to protect their natural rights
The best form of government has limited power and needs to be accepted by all citizens.
If a government violates its citizens natural rights, the people have a right to overthrow the government.

5. III Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)
A French philosophe. He believed the best way to protect liberty is to divide the powers of government among three branches; the legislative, executive and judicial.  influenced idea of checks & balances.
“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.”

6. IV Voltaire (1694 – 1778)
Voltaire was a French philosophe who used literary wit to attack social injustices, including religious intolerance and slavery. “Men are equal; it is not birth but virtue that makes the difference.”
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”

7. “I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery.”
V Rousseau
A French philosophe, wrote The Social Contract.
Rousseau believed that people in the state of nature are naturally good. However, society corrupts  limited government is necessary.
A social contract between all members of society is necessary for a just government.
The good of the “general will” (greater community) should be put above individual interests.
“I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery.”

8. VI Mary Wollstonecraft
A British philosophe, she wrote The Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
She called for the equal education of boys and girls, so women could participate fully in public life.
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.” - Wollstonecraft

9. VII Adam Smith
A Scottish economist, he wrote The Wealth of Nations. Argued for a free market that regulates itself based on the “natural laws” of supply and demand  Britain will transition from a mercantilist (commerce was largely regulated by the government) to a capitalist economic system. Argued for laissez-faire: the operation of businesses with little to no government regulation. Smith believed capitalism would lead to an increase in jobs and wealth for nations.
“Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man, or order of men.”
“No complaint... is more common than that of a scarcity of money.” – Adam Smith

10. Mercantilism vs. Capitalism

11. VIII An Enlightened Society
A) Denis Diderot produced a 28 volume set of The Encyclopedia with sections on government, philosophy and religion. France and the Pope tried to ban it due to his critiques of the Church and slavery.
“The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.”
“When superstition is allowed to perform the task of old age in dulling the human temperament, we can say goodbye to all excellence in poetry, in painting, and in music.” – Denis Diderot

12. An Enlightened Society Continued…
B) By the 17th century, intellectuals met in taverns, coffeehouses, and salons. The salons were social gatherings of intellectuals (often hosted by a woman!), with the purpose of a stimulating conversation about philosophy, literature, art, and politics.

13. An Enlightened Society Continued…
Madame Germaine de Staël (1766 – 1817) was a FEMALE French philosophe. She hosted salons in her home, and wrote Germany and Considerations on the French Revolution.
“[She]teaches people to think who never thought before, or who had forgotten how to think.” –Napoloen Bonaparte
“Search for the truth is the noblest occupation of man; its publication is a duty.” – de Staël
Madame Germaine de Staël

14. IX Enlightenment Inspired Art & Literature
A) In the age of Louis XIV of France, courtly art and architecture often was of the baroque style: grand and colorful!
Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Portrait of a Young Girl ( )
Linfante Marguerite by Diego Velázquez

15. Versailles, an Example of Baroque Architecture

16. Arts and Literature Reflect New Ideas…
B) Louis XV’s court was less formal than that of Louis XIV  rococo ; lighter and more delicate.

17. Palace of Catherine the Great, an Example of Rococo Architecture

18. Arts and Literature Continued…
C) Prior to the enlightenment, music was reserved for the educated, wealthy, and nobility. It was believed that the “common people” were unable to appreciate the fine arts. As enlightenment philosophes believed all people are equal  music should be for everyone  greater artistic freedom  Classical music: meant to be enjoyed by everyone; timeless.
Additionally:
1. Operas (plays set to music) originated in Florence.
2. Ballets, dancing en Pointe began to be performed.
Mozart 1756 – 1791 “Music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.”

19. Arts and Literature Continued…
D) By the early 18th century, novels appeared in Europe.
Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe, about a shipwrecked sailor with self-determination. Influenced by John Locke and Puritanism.
Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels, which included criticizes of 18th century British society.
“Those people cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them because they see and covet what He has not given them. All of our discontents for what we want appear to me to spring from want of thankfulness for what we have.” ― Robinson Crusoe
“And he gave it for his opinion, "that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.” – Gullivers Travels

20. X Enlightened Despots Embrace New Ideas
A) Some European absolute monarchs “enlightened despots” embraced enlightenment ideas, and used their absolute power to force reforms.
1. Frederick II “Frederick The Great” ruled Prussia 1740 – He allowed a free press and reduced the use of torture. He allowed for some religious freedom. “In my kingdom… everyone can go to heaven in his own fashion.”
What was Prussia? Preussens were a mix of Baltic and Slavic peoples, who were forcibly converted to Christianity by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. German peasants were brought to farm the land and by 1350 the majority were German. “Prussia” was later conquered by the Poles and the Holy Roman Empire. By the late 17th century, Brandenburg-Prussia was the strongest of the northern German states. The Prussian Kingdom was founded on January 18th, 1701, when the Holy Roman Elector Frederick III had himself crowned Frederick I.
Frederick II

21. Enlightened Despots Continued…
2. Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, is often labeled an “enlightened despot” because
Codified (wrote down) Russian law and granted boyars (Russian lords) a charter of rights
Abolished torture
Made French the official Russian court language.
Made St. Petersburg into a center of culture & education
Gained a warm water port on the Black Sea from the Ottomans, which Peter the Great had failed to do.
However, she increased the power of boyars over their serfs. She knew serfdom was inhumane, but she depended on the loyalty of the boyars to maintain power.
Catherine the Great Writing to Denis Diderot: “I have listened with the greatest pleasure to the inspirations of your brilliant mind; but all your grand principles which… would do splendidly in books and very badly in practice. In all your plans for reform, you are forgetting the difference between our two positions: you work only on paper… while I, poor Empress, work on human skin, which is far more sensitive and touchy.”

23. XI Revolution
A) Enlightenment ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the American Revolution (1775 – 1779). Once the colonies won their independence from Britain, the enlightenment helped to shape our constitution.
Enlightenment ideas later influenced the French Revolution (1789 – late 1790s).

24. HW Questions
What was the enlightenment? How was it related to the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution?
What did Hobbes and Locke believe? Who do you agree with more and why?
Of the following philosophes [Montesquieu, Wollstonecraft, Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau], which two do you most agree with and why?
If you could have a salon in your own home, who would you invite [dead or alive] and why? Choose at least 2 people and justify your answer.
How was the Enlightenment reflected in art and music?
Were the “enlightened despots” truly enlightened? How do you know?
Fill in the chart on the following slide.

27. Key Vocabulary
American Revolution Baroque Catherine the Great Daniel DeFoe Declaration of Independence Diderot Enlightened Despot Enlightenment Frederick II French Revolution John Locke Mary Wollestonecraft Mozart Natural Laws Philosophes
Rococo
Rousseau
Social Contract
The Marriage of Figaro
Thomas Hobbes
Voltaire