The Enlightenment

“Age of Reason”

The EnlightenmentThe age of enlightenment

was a time in history when

people started to question

the authority of absolute

rulers. People began to

develop philosophies on

how government should be

run. These ideas shaped

history going forward and

laid the groundwork for

many revolutions.

Enlightened Despot

An enlightened despot was

someone who influenced

and discussed the new

ideas developed during this

time period. Enlightened

despots developed

philosophies of their own

regarding government and

the rights of the people.

Scientific Revolution

This was a change from

religious theories of

science, to science to being

based on experiment and

theory.

Heliocentric Model

This idea, put forth by

Galileo Galilei, states that

the sun, not the earth, is

the center of the universe.

This model was rejected by

the church, but science

proved it to be true.

Scientific Method

Put forth by Francis Bacon,

this theory is a series of

steps used to prove

scientific theories.

John LockeJohn Locke believed in

Natural Rights. The natural

rights John Locke believed

in we life, liberty, and

property. He believed that

every individual were owed

those rights. John Locke

supported a democratic

form of government.

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes believed

that people need structure

and guidance. He believed

without total control, chaos

would erupt. Thomas

Hobbes supported a

absolutist form of

government, in which the

government has total

control of the people.

MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu

believed in a government

that contained three

branches. This allowed for

checks and balances within

the government system.

The three branches of

government being judicial,

executive, and legistlative.

RousseauJean-Jaques Rousseau’s

philosophy stated, “Man is

born free, but everywhere

he is in chains”. We live in

a free society with rules at

every corner. Rousseau

wrote the text

The Social Contract.

VoltaireVoltaire believed in the

freedom of speech and

religion. He once said, “I

may not agree with what

you say, but I will defend

your right to say it”.