The The EnlightenmEnlightenm

entent

A. Introduction to the A. Introduction to the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• 1600’s -1700’s- period in Europe known as the Age of the Enlightenment or “The Age of Reason”

1. The Early Enlightenment a. PhilosophesPhilosophes- the thinkers of the Enlightenment b. 5 main ideas to their philosophy • Reason • Nature• Happiness• Progress• Liberty

2.2.Thomas Thomas Hobbes-Hobbes-

English philosopher who English philosopher who came up with the idea came up with the idea of a social contractof a social contract

a. the contract meant a. the contract meant that people would give that people would give up their freedom up their freedom

b. best form of a b. best form of a government was an government was an absolute monarchy absolute monarchy

c. believed chaos would c. believed chaos would occur without an occur without an absolute monarchy absolute monarchy

3. John Locke3. John Lockea. Enlightenment influenced by

his ideas b. Believed people had a

natural ability to govern their own affairs & look after the welfare of society

c. Government should protect 3 natural rights: right to life, liberty, and property

d. Published Two Treaties of Government– Jefferson based Declaration of

Independence on Locke’s ideas

4. Activity in Parisa. ParisParis- most active

city in the Enlightenment

b. SalonsSalons- social gatherings with engaging conversation

- hosted by wealthy & influential women

B. Three French Giant B. Three French Giant Philosophes Philosophes

1. MontesquieuMontesquieua. Believed strongly in the

British government & the idea of separating government’s powers

b. 3 Branches– executive branch- king carried

out & enforced laws– legislative- Parliament had

lawmaking power– judicial- interpreted laws &

judged when they were broken

-became the basis for the United States Constitution

2. VoltaireVoltairea. During his youth,

spent 2 prison terms in Bastille for libel & mocking the church

b. Exiled to England c. Wrote works that

advocated free thought and tolerance

- most famous work was Candide

3.3.Denis Denis Diderot-Diderot-

a. editor & writer of the Encyclopedia

- not supported by the Catholic Church

- 28 volumes in total, completed in 1772

Marquis de Condorcet

• 1743-1794• French Philosopher• Voting tally where

contestants beat each other in a run off.

• Constitutionalism • Public Education• Women’s rights

C. Other Philosophes of the C. Other Philosophes of the Enlightenment Enlightenment

1. Jean-Jean-Jacques Jacques RousseauRousseau-- wrote The Social Contract

a. Believed a legitimate govt. ruled with the consent of its people

- believed people should be dominant not the monarchs

2. Adam Adam SmithSmith

a. Supported the concept of laissez-faire

b. Wrote The Wealth of Nations

c. Believed the government had 3 roles: protect society from invasion, defend citizens from injustice, & keep up public works citizens couldn’t afford

3.3.Mary Mary WollstonecraWollstonecraft-ft-

*considered the first feminist

*argued for women’s rights and the rights to participate in government

*wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women

D. New Forms Dominate D. New Forms Dominate MusicMusic

1. Baroque- (odd) style of music that dev. during the late 1600’s & early 1700’s

a. noted for its drama & complexity

b. 2 musical techniques (fugue & counterpoint)

c. Johann Sebastian Bach & George Fredrick Handel

Johann Sebastian Bach

2. Classical (1750-1820)- unity, clarity, & balance

a. symphony, concerto dominate music

b. Wolfgang Amadeus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- Mozart- child prodigy who began composing music at age of 5, operas are still preformed today

c. . Joseph Haydn- Joseph Haydn- wrote superior symphonies for strings and woodwinds, “father of symphony”

d. BeethovenBeethoven-- greatest European composer of all time, carried music into the age of romanticism

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

E. Leaders Initiate ReformE. Leaders Initiate Reform

1. Enlightened despots- monarchs who attempted to practice some of the political ideas of the Enlightenment -aimed to rule according to principles of the Enlightenment while maintaining traditional royal powers

a. Fredrick II of Prussia, Maria Theresa, Joseph II

2. deism: religious philosophy based on reason

F. The End of the F. The End of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

1. Ended with the Age of Romanticisma. cultural movement that celebrated

emotion and the individual b. lower classes were inspired by

Rousseau & began demanding more rights