Absolute MonarchsAbsolute Monarchs

Absolute Monarchs - Kings or Absolute Monarchs - Kings or Queens who believed that all power Queens who believed that all power within their state’s boundaries rested within their state’s boundaries rested in their hands. in their hands.

Divine Right - The idea that God Divine Right - The idea that God created the monarchy and that they created the monarchy and that they were his representative on earth.were his representative on earth.

Crises lad to AbsolutismCrises lad to Absolutism

1717thth century is a time of great century is a time of great upheaval in Europe.upheaval in Europe.

Religious and territorial conflicts lead Religious and territorial conflicts lead to almost continuous warfare.to almost continuous warfare.

This provided an opportunity for rulers This provided an opportunity for rulers to increase their power.to increase their power.

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

Parliament Limits English Parliament Limits English MonarchsMonarchs

The road to Constitutional MonarchyThe road to Constitutional Monarchy• English Civil War – Conflict between King (Charles English Civil War – Conflict between King (Charles

I) and Parliament leads to Cromwell as leader.I) and Parliament leads to Cromwell as leader.• Restoration – The monarch (Charles II) is restored Restoration – The monarch (Charles II) is restored

as king.as king.• Glorious Revolution – James II becomes king after Glorious Revolution – James II becomes king after

Charles II diesCharles II dies

James II, a Catholic, and a threat to English James II, a Catholic, and a threat to English Protestantism is replaced by William and Mary Protestantism is replaced by William and Mary who agree to rule “according to the statutes of who agree to rule “according to the statutes of Parliament”Parliament”

English Bill of Rights – Clearly stated English Bill of Rights – Clearly stated the limits of royal power making the limits of royal power making England a England a Constitutional Constitutional MonarchyMonarchy. .

Enlightenment and Enlightenment and RevolutionRevolution

The Medieval View (Geocentric) believed The Medieval View (Geocentric) believed that the earth was an unmoving object that the earth was an unmoving object located at the center of the universelocated at the center of the universe

Heliocentric, sun-centered, theory is Heliocentric, sun-centered, theory is proposed buy Nicolaus Copernicus.proposed buy Nicolaus Copernicus.

Scientific Revolution placed an emphasis Scientific Revolution placed an emphasis of the practical application of scientific of the practical application of scientific theory. One should use careful theory. One should use careful observation and question accepted beliefs.observation and question accepted beliefs.

The clergy expressed opposition to the Scientific Theory because The clergy expressed opposition to the Scientific Theory because it went against church teachingsit went against church teachings

The Inquisition forced Galileo to state that the earth was the The Inquisition forced Galileo to state that the earth was the center of the universe. Galileo spent the rest of his life under center of the universe. Galileo spent the rest of his life under house arrest. He was cleared by the Catholic Church in 1992.house arrest. He was cleared by the Catholic Church in 1992.

Denis Diederot – His Denis Diederot – His Encyclopedia Encyclopedia was a summary of knowledge of the time. It was banned by the Church

Other important contributors –Other important contributors – Isaac Newton – Law of universal gravitation.Isaac Newton – Law of universal gravitation.

Observation, experimentation, and mathematics is the basis of Observation, experimentation, and mathematics is the basis of scientific discoveryscientific discovery

Francis Bacon – scientific methoFrancis Bacon – scientific metho

d leads to better worldd leads to better world

The Enlightenment in The Enlightenment in EuropeEurope

Enlightenment Thinkers – Two Views Enlightenment Thinkers – Two Views on governmenton government

Thomas Hobbes – In his book, Thomas Hobbes – In his book, Leviathan Leviathan People give up their rights People give up their rights to a strong leader (King) in exchange to a strong leader (King) in exchange for safety, law, and order. People are for safety, law, and order. People are naturally selfish and wicked. Hobbes naturally selfish and wicked. Hobbes called this agreement of ruler and called this agreement of ruler and ruled the ruled the Social ContractSocial Contract

John Locke – John Locke – Two Treatises on GovernmentTwo Treatises on Government More positive view of human nature. More positive view of human nature.

People are born with natural rights – life, People are born with natural rights – life, liberty, and property. A government’s liberty, and property. A government’s power comes from the consent of the power comes from the consent of the people to be governed.people to be governed.

Locke heavily influenced Thomas Locke heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson’s writings and the American Jefferson’s writings and the American Revolution.Revolution.

The Philosophes (French philosophers) opposed The Philosophes (French philosophers) opposed divine right monarchs (they were social critics)divine right monarchs (they were social critics)

Believed that people could apply reason to all Believed that people could apply reason to all aspects of life and could govern themselves.aspects of life and could govern themselves.

1. Reason1. Reason

2. Nature2. Nature

3. Happiness3. Happiness

4. Progress4. Progress

5. Liberty5. Liberty

Key FiguresKey Figures Voltaire – Fought for tolerance, freedom of Voltaire – Fought for tolerance, freedom of

religion and freedom of speech.religion and freedom of speech. Montesquieu – Concepts of “separation of power” Montesquieu – Concepts of “separation of power”

and “checks and balances”. Great influence on and “checks and balances”. Great influence on America’s Constitution.America’s Constitution.

Rousseau – Rousseau – Social Contract Social Contract Committed to Committed to individual freedom. Man gives consent to be individual freedom. Man gives consent to be governed for the common good. Promoted direct governed for the common good. Promoted direct democracy. Very different outlook than Hobbesdemocracy. Very different outlook than Hobbes

Enlightenment had tremendous influence Enlightenment had tremendous influence on future governments. on future governments.

Three long term effects that helped shape Three long term effects that helped shape Western CivilizationWestern Civilization

* Belief in Progress* Belief in Progress

* A More Secular Outlook* A More Secular Outlook

* Importance of the Individual* Importance of the Individual

Enlightenment philosophers did little to Enlightenment philosophers did little to promote women’s rightspromote women’s rights

More Important FiguresMore Important FiguresAdam Smith – wrote Adam Smith – wrote The Wealth of The Wealth of

Nations Nations the ultimate guide to the ultimate guide to capitalism.capitalism.

Mary Wallstonecraft – Argued for Mary Wallstonecraft – Argued for women’s rights in women’s rights in A Vindication of the A Vindication of the

Rights of WomenRights of WomenWolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Child Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Child prodigy who composed prodigy who composed The Magic The Magic

FluteFluteEFFECTS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENTEFFECTS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENTRulers like Catherine the Great of Rulers like Catherine the Great of

Russia became an Enlightened Russia became an Enlightened Despot by following Despot by following

Enlightenment idealsEnlightenment ideals