AP World History: The Enlightenment Period 4: 1450 - 1750 Do
Now: Do you think that man is naturally selfish or naturally
good?
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I What was the Enlightenment? A)The Scientific Revolution
(16-17 th centuries) allowed for the understanding of universal
natural laws in science, such as the existence of gravity. B)By the
early 18 th century, a revolution in human thinking began called
the Enlightenment. Thinkers of the Enlightenment (called
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.
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II Hobbes vs. Locke Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were both 17
th century English philosophers. They both lived through the
English Civil War, but came to very different conclusions about
human nature and the role of government.
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How do these two men disagree? Thomas Hobbes 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. It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.
John Locke All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one
ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.
The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and
enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of
law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.
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Thomas Hobbes Outlined his ideas in the Leviathan Believed
people to be naturally cruel, greedy and selfish. Life in the state
of nature would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. To
have a functioning society, people should enter into a social
contract, an agreement where they give up some individual freedoms
in exchange for an organized society. The best form of government
is an absolute monarchy, that can impose order and obedience. John
Locke Outlined his ideas in Two Treatises of Government Believed
people to be naturally reasonable and 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. All governments have an obligation to
the people it governs. If a government fails in its obligations or
violates its citizens natural rights, the people have a right to
overthrow the government.
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III Montesquieu (1689 1755) A)A French philosophe. B)1748 Baron
de Montesquieus The Spirit of the Laws was published. In it he
discussed governments throughout history. C)Believed the best way
to protect liberty is to divide the powers of government among
three branches; the legislative, executive and judicial. -
influenced our system of checks and 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.
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IV Voltaire (1694 1778) A)A French philosophe. Born
Francois-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire. B)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.
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V Rousseau A)A French philosophe. B)1762 he outlined his ideas
in The Social Contract. C)Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that
people in the state of nature are naturally good. However, society
corrupts which is why limited government is necessary. D)People in
government should be freely elected. E)A social contract between
all members of society is necessary for a just government. F)The
good of the general will or the greater community should be put
above individual interests. I prefer liberty with danger than peace
with slavery.
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VI Mary Wollstonecraft A)Mary Wollstonecraft was a British
philosophe. B)1792 she published A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman. She called for the equal education of boys and girls, so
women could participate fully in public life. *At this time,
society believed that womens role should be limited to the family.
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.
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VII New Economic Thinking A)French thinkers known as
physiocrats believed that rational economic systems should be based
on natural laws. B)Physiocrats rejected mercantilism, where the
economy is strongly regulated by the government. Instead, they
argued for a policy of laissez-faire: businesses can operate with
little to no government regulation. C)British economist Adam Smith
wrote The Wealth of Nations. He argued for a free market that
regulates itself. Economic growth is linked to the free market
forces of supply and demand. Labour was the first price, the
original purchase - money that was paid for all things. It was not
by gold or by silver, but by labour, that all wealth of the world
was originally purchased.
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VIII An Enlightened Society A) Denis Diderot produced a 28
volume set of books called The Encyclopedia. His purpose was to
change the general way of thinking by explaining topics such as
government, philosophy and religion. B) Because many of the
articles praised freedom of expression, and criticized slavery and
traditional religion, the French government and the Pope tried to
ban it. Man will never be free until the last king is strangled
with the entrails of the last priest.
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An Enlightened Society Continued C) By the 17 th century,
writers, artists and philosophes began meeting in salons (informal
social gatherings). The salons began when French noblewomen began
meetings in their homes. *Madame Geoffrin had Mozart and Diderot as
her salon guests!
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An Enlightened Society Continued D) In the age of Louis XIV,
courtly art and architecture often was of the baroque style: grand,
colorful, full of excitement. Linfante Marguerite by Diego Velzquez
Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Portrait of a Young Girl (1615-16)
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Versailles, an Example of Baroque Architecture
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An Enlightened Society Continued E) Louis XVs court was less
formal than that of Louis XIV. The style of rococo developed to
reflect this change. It was lighter and more delicate. The
philosophes denounced Rococo as aristocratic and frivolous. Marie
Antoinette, 1783 by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun
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Palace of Catherine the Great, an Example of Rococo
Architecture
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An Enlightened Society Continued F) The enlightenment saw the
advent of public concerts; the growing middle class sought
entertainment and, unlike the peasantry of prior centuries, they
could afford it. Music was no longer to be for the private
amusement of a privileged few. Composers also developed new forms
of music. Mozart began his career as a servant to the Archbishop of
Salzburg. In fact, up until this period, composers were often just
highly-skilled servants to the church or royal courts. But Mozarts
travels to England and France had exposed him to the ideals of
independence and equality. Mozart moved to Vienna, where he
supported himself with public concerts and through teaching
engagements. Mozarts opera The Marriage of Figaro epitomized the
new ways of thinking by giving servants a central role. Previously,
servants were comic figures to be laughed at; but Mozart presented
them as equally worthy of serious attention as any noble
aristocrat.
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An Enlightened Society Continued 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. The Marriage of Figaro is set in Seville [Spain] in the late
18th Century. It is based on Beaumarchaiss 1784 play La Folle
Journe, a sequel to his earlier play, Le Barbier de Sville. In Le
Barbier, Count Almaviva, with help from Figaro, wooed and won the
lovely Rosine away from her crusty old ward and would-be husband,
Dr. Bartholo. In The Marriage of Figaro, Beaumarchais continued
their story. The Count has married Rosine but their marriage has
gone sour because of his philandering. Figaro has quit barbering
and is now the Counts major-domo. He is engaged to Suzanne, who is
Countess Rosines maid and the Counts intended conquest. Old
Bartholo is back to seek revenge on Figaro for taking Rosine away
from him, with the help of the slimy music-master, Don Bazile.
Adding to the fun are an amorous teenager, a scheming old maid, a
drunken gardener, and a silly young girl. Mozarts librettist,
Lorenzo da Ponte removed political content that would have offended
the Viennese imperial censors (the French Revolution was only a few
years away), and translated the rest into Italian the customary
opera language of the day. With Mozarts masterpiece of a score, the
result was a witty yet profound tale of love, betrayal, and
forgiveness. reginaopera.org
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Vienna State Opera House
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An Enlightened Society Continued G) By the early 18 th century,
novels began to appear in Europe. Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson
Crusoe, about a shipwrecked sailor.
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IX Enlightened Despots Embrace New Ideas A) The philosophes
tried to get European monarchs to embrace enlightenment ideas B)
Those that accepted these new ideas were called enlightened
despots. They still had absolute power, but they used their power
in new ways. 1. Frederick II, known as Frederick The Great ruled
Prussia 1740 1786. 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.
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Enlightened Despots Continued 2. Catherine II, or Catherine the
Great, exchanged letters with Voltaire and Diderot. She praised
Voltaire as someone who had fought the united enemies of humankind:
superstition, fanaticism, ignorance, trickery. - Catherine the
Great abolished torture - Granted Russian nobles a charter of
rights *However, she did expand her empire and reinforced
serfdom.
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X Revolution A)Enlightenment ideas influenced the Declaration
of Independence (1776) and the American Revolution (1775 1779).
Once the colonies won their independence, the enlightenment helped
to shape our constitution. B)Enlightenment ideas later influenced
the French Revolution (1789 late 1790s).
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HW Questions 1.What was the enlightenment? Do you think it
deserves its own period, or was it really just part of the
Renaissance? 2.What did Hobbes and Locke believe? Who do you agree
with more and why? 3.Of the following philosophes [Montesquieu,
Wollstonecraft, Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau], which two do you
most agree with and why? 4.If you could have a salon in your own
home, who would you invite [dead or alive] and why? Choose at least
2 people. 5.How was the Enlightenment reflected in art and music?
6.Were the enlightened despots truly enlightened? 7.How did the
Enlightenment influence revolutions?
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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