The Age of Enlightenment

1700-1789

The Age of Enlightenment A period of intellectual exchange in Europe

during the 18th century

“Progress”

A desire for political and social change

The Age of Enlightenment What made the Enlightenment possible?

The Philosophes Intellectuals who discussed ideas

Used reason to explain their world

Believed that Reason could improve society

Believed in tolerance for all religions

The Philosophes

Voltaire (1694-1778) French intellectual who criticized French

society

John Locke (1632-1704) Treatises on Government

Essay on Human Understanding

“Tabula Rasa”

John Locke (1632-1704)

Denis Diderot (1713-1784) Published the Encyclopedia in 1772

Attempt to compile information on everything

Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

The Encyclopedia

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher

The Spirit of the Laws

Baron de Montesquieu(1689-1755)

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Jewish philosopher in Amsterdam

Belief in religious toleration

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) The Social Contract (1762)

The “General Will”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

Adam Smith (1723-1790) First modern economist

The Wealth of Nations (1776)

Laissez-Faire

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

The Wealth of Nations

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of

Women

Founder of modern feminism

Mary Wollstonecraft(1759-1797)

The American Revolution Was the American Revolution just a revolt

against British taxation? How was it based on Enlightenment

principles? In what ways is the Declaration of

Independence based on John Locke’s Treatises on Government?

Conclusion The Enlightenment was a period of

intellectual exchange in Europe during the 18th century

Several factors contributed to the Enlightenment

Philosophes expressed desire for social and political change