Ch. 17 p.

536

Revolution & Enlightenment 1550-1800

Part 1 p. 538 Scientific Revolution: science & technology BUT
also a shift in the way Europeans viewed themselves and the world
• Causes: Instead of educated people believing ancient
philosophers such as a Aristotle, they started to believe
philosophers who based their beliefs on observations of
natural world.
• Greek & Latin now taught, therefore so are those beliefs.
• Telescope, microscope, printing press calculations of
ship’s cargo (Mathematics)
• Women: EUREKA! Margaret Cavendish—English
philosopher. Maria Winklemann-German astronomer-
discovered a comet
 Scientific Revolution
• Breakthroughs: Previous thought:
Ptolemaic System: geocentric—
places Earth at center of UNIVERSE.
• NOW: heliocentric-sun-
centered—Copernicus. Kepler:
egg-shaped orbits around the
sun;
• Galileo: Mathematics &
telescope—mountains on the
moon: Same substance as Earth
• Newton: law of gravity—every
object is attracted to every other
object; showed how 1 law could
explain all motion
Scientific Revolution
• Philosophy & Reason:
• Descartes: Father of
Modern Rationalism: Only
believe which that can be
proven (REASON)
• Bacon & scientific method :
collect & analyze evidence
inductive reasoning:
proceed after a certain point
is found
Part 2 p. 546 Enlightenment: applying the scientific method to
everything brought about change in gov’t., religion, and
women’s rights
• Path: apply REASON to everything brings about
natural law, hope & progress
• John Locke: Every person born with tabula
rasa/blank mind; people formed by
experience, so if environments are changed,
people could change.
• Isaac Newton: if every institution followed
natural law, result is an ideal society
Enlightenment

• Ideas: Most philosophers were French; goal was to change the

world using reason;
• Montesquieu: study of governments; ; advocated for
separation of power
• Voltaire: GREATEST FIGURE OF ENLIGHTENMENT;
advocated deism: religious philosophy based on reason &
natural law; said that God had created the universe—like a
clock--, but wanted it to run based on natural laws with no
interference; religiously tolerant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGDMP9c_3n4
• Diderot: attacked religious superstition
Enlightenment
• New Social Sciences:
• Smith/Economics: If individuals are free to pursue their
own economic interests, everyone benefits. Laissez-faire:
let people do what they want. State should not regulate
economy
• Beccaria/justice: punishments should be brutal; they
don’t stop others form committing crimes, but set an
example for barbarism
 Enlightenment
• SPREAD OF IDEAS:
• Social contract: Rousseau—an entire society agrees to be governed by
its general will. Liberty is achieved by being forced to following what is
good for the general will
• Women’s rights: Mary Wollstonecraft (Mary Shelley’s Mom) She pointed
out that while the philosophers wanted to be free from governments,
the paradox of them also wanting women to submit to men didn’t make
sense.
• READING: exponential growth in printing & publishing—especially in
middle class
• Salon: drawing room of a wealthy person where ideas were discussed;
women were hosts and tried to sway opinions toward the arts. P. 564
Part 3; pg. 554 Impact of Enlightenment
• Enlightened Absolutism: as more rulers became enlightened they tried to
rule with the belief of natural lights in mind;
• PRUSSIA: Frederick the Great (II) most educated & cultured monarch in Europe.
He beefed up army with nobles, abolished use of torture, BUT kept RIGID social
structure intact.

• AUSTRIA: Hard to rule due to sprawl… Maria Theresa was not enlightened but DID
improve condition of Serfs; Her son, Joseph, abolished serfdom.
Catherine the Great: Russian ruler—enlightened but did nothing because she
needed support of nobility;

• In the end, there really was NOT enlightened Absolutism (See CH 18). Monarchs
ruled based on retaining power and collecting taxes.
Impact of Enlightenment
• Seven Years’ War: fought over succession to Austrian throne;
When Maria Theresa took over Austria, Prussian monarch
Frederick Great invaded. France took Prussia’s side. England
took Austria’s side. NO WINNER IN WAR;
No winner, but created two new enemies: FRANCE vs. ENGLAND
• War in India: Great War for the Empire (discussed in Ch. 15)
England and France fought for control of India. France went
home.
• War in North America: France VS England; Treaty of Paris—
England controlled most of N.A. besides Louisiana Territory---
Spanish (ally of French). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpJGJkjSxyM
• Result---1763-Great Britain world’s greatest colonial power.
Impact of Enlightenment
• Arts
Architecture: Versailles (France)
Music: Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart
Literature: realism; first novel Henry Fielding: Tom Jones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb0UmrCXxVA
Part 4 p. 566 American Revolution: the embodiment of
Enlightenment’s political dreams: form own army, don’t pay unfair taxes, declare
independence

• Gr. Britain: After Q. Anne died w/ no heir, 1714, her nearest relative,
a German took over. He and his successor allowed ministers and
parliament to rule. England needed to cover cost of 7 years war: tax
America.
• George Washington: General of Continental Army
• Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson
• Constitution: created a federal system w/ a bill of rights
• Articles of Confed.

• France was first country to grant diplomatic recognition to new American

state; because of their old enemy? Because Washington was French?