1. The Enlightenment in Europe

2. Key Terms Enlightenment Social contract Encyclopedia Neoclassical
Classical music

3. Enlightenment
New intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems
Scholars and philosophers reevaluate old ideas about their society
Started with ideas from the 1600s and reached its peak in the mid-1700s

4. Thomas Hobbes
All humans were naturally selfish and wicked, therefore governments must keep order.
People should hand over their rights to a strong ruler, in exchange for law and order
He called this agreement by which people created their government a social contract
Strong ruler should have total power
Felt best government was an absolute monarchy, which could impose order and demand obedience

5. John Locke People could learn from experience and improve themselves
People had natural ability to govern their own affairs and look after welfare of society
Self-government
All people born with natural rights of life, liberty, and property
Government’s job was to protect these natural rights, if government fails, then the people have the right to overthrow it

6. Five Concepts of Enlightenment Thinkers
Reason: truth could be discovered through reason and logic
Nature: what was natural was good and reasonable
Happiness: people should seek well-being while on Earth
Progress: society and mankind could improve
Liberty

7. Voltaire Beliefs: Tolerance Reason Freedom of religious belief
Freedom of speech
“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

8. Montesqieu
Believed Britain was the best-governed and most politically balanced country of his own day
Proposed the “separation of powers” between executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
Proposed checks and balances

9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Passionately committed to individual freedom
Believed man was born free and good but easily corrupted by society
Believed the only good government was the “general will” or direct democracy.

10. Cesare Bonesana Beccaria
Beliefs
Laws existed to preserve social order, not avenge crime.
Accused should receive speedy trials.
Torture should never be used.
Degree of punishment should match seriousness of crime.
Capital punishment (death penalty) should be abolished.

11. Mary Wollstonecraft Women should be equally educated along with men.
Women should enter professions traditionally dominated by men like medicine and politics.
Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

12. Effects of the Enlightenment
Belief in Progress: opened up opportunities for ideas of Scientific Revolution to be accepted
More Secular (non-religious) Outlook on Life
Importance of the Individual: looked to themselves for guidance instead of church or royalty

13. Diderot’s Encyclopedia
Diderot began to publish a series of books in 1751 that were compilations of articles from leading scholars. Even though the French government and the Catholic Church censored the Encyclopedia, it was responsible for spreading Enlightenment ideas all over Europe.

14. Neoclassical Style
Neoclassical art began to replace baroque art during the late 1700s. Neoclassical art followed a simple and elegant style that drew on ideas from classical Greece and Rome.

15. Classical Music
Classical music, with a new, lighter style, emerged during the Enlightenment. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven were three classical composers from Austria.

16. Enlightened despots
Enlightened despots supported the ideas of the philosophes and made enlightenment reforms. Europe’s most important enlightened despots included Frederick II of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria, and Catherine the Great of Russia.

17. Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia
Ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786
granted religious freedoms
reduced censorship
improved education

18. Joseph II of Austria Religion
Granted toleration toward Jews, as well as Protestants
His anti-clerical and liberal innovations provoked a visit from the Pope Pius VI in 1782
Joseph was a good Catholic, but was not persuaded to change his liberal positions on religion.
The Arts
He was known as the “musical king.”
He was a huge patron of composers.

19. Catherine II (the Great) of Russia
Ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796
Recommended reforms based on the ideas of the Enlightenment, but put limited reforms in place
vastly enlarged the Russian empire