Download Lesson 1 The Enlightenment

Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
Lesson 1
The Enlightenment
MAIN IDEAS
Culture The Enlightenment arose from the belief that reason could help
people understand their social and political world.
Culture European philosophers used reason to criticize social and political
institutions.
Culture Women used reason to argue in favor of equal rights and helped
spread Enlightenment ideas.
Beginnings of the Enlightenment
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why did the Enlightenment begin?
Roots of the Enlightenment
•• Ancient Greeks, Romans respected logic, reason, observation
•• Christianity in Middle Ages valued faith, equality
•• Greek belief in reason, individuality inspired Renaissance scholars
•• Reformation approved right of individuals to challenge Church doctrine
•• Enlightenment——new way of learning about world; called Age of Reason
John Locke
•• English philosopher challenged divine right of kings in late 1600s
•• Locke believed power of government came from people, not God or king
- people consented to be governed by rulers
•• Natural rights——people are born with right to life, liberty, property
- Locke felt government·s role was to protect these natural rights
- people had right to revolt if ruler failed to protect these rights
REVIEW QUESTION
What was the Enlightenment, and what were its roots?
Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times 1
European Philosophers
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why did European philosophers use reason to
criticize social and political institutions?
Voltaire
•• Philosophes——French for philosophers, thinkers
- applied scientic method to social problems, challenged old beliefs
•• François-Marie Arouet wrote more than 70 books under the name Voltaire
- spoke out against religious intolerance, superstition in Church
- called for freedom of speech, believed people had right to liberty
Baron de Montesquieu
•• Believed liberty was a natural right; opposed absolute monarchs
•• Believed government should have three branches; check and balance each
other
- separation of powers became basis for U.S. Constitution
Jean Jacques Rousseau
•• Argued democracy was best way to govern; wrote book The Social Contract
•• Opposed monarchs, nobility; felt people should vote on government
- his beliefs, especially that of equality, sometimes led to revolt
REVIEW QUESTION
What were some of the important ideas of the philosophes?
Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
World History: Medieval and Early Modern Times 2
Women and the Enlightenment
ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did women use reason to argue for equal
rights?
Women and Salons
•• Philosophes held traditional views about women
•• Wealthy French women hosted salons——gatherings of thinkers, artists
•• Madame Geoffrin frequently hosted Voltaire, Montesquieu at her salon
- most guests were nobility; foreign visitors and ideas also welcomed
- discussions often printed in newspapers; spread Enlightenment ideas
Education for Women
•• In 1694, writer Mary Astell criticized England for not educating women
•• In 1784, American Judith Murray wrote about education for women
- felt that women deprived of education had low self-esteem
•• Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
- essay argues that well-educated women create enlightened families
- public life would be strengthened by such enlightened families
REVIEW QUESTION
How did women reformers try to improve women’s status?
Lesson Summary
•• Enlightenment thinkers believed that human reason could lead to an understanding of all aspects of life.
•• Philosophes and other thinkers believed that people had natural rights to life,
liberty, and property.
•• Women used reason to argue for equal rights and help spread Enlightenment
ideas by hosting salons.
Why It Matters Now . . .
The belief that reason is the key that leads humans to understand their social and
political world continues to inuence thinking today.
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