Enlightenment

Question 1

Why was the Enlightenment an intellectual revolution?

Answer 1

It changed the way people viewed the world.

Question 2

When did the Enlightenment start and when did it have its roots?

Answer 2

It began to form in the early 18th century but had its roots in the Renaissance.

Question 3

When was the Scientific Revolution?

Answer 3

1540-1690

Question 4

How did the Scientific Revolution change the way people approached problems?

Answer 4

Before, everything was based on religion. This was how people explained the world.

Question 5

What are three causes of the Scientific Revolution?

Answer 5

1. New areas of study at universities 2. rediscovery of Greek and Roman scientists 3. Desire to explore the world.

Question 6

How did studies at universities change?

Answer 6

Before, only areas to study were theology and law. During the Scientific Revolution universities became a safe place to discuss and develop new ideas not related to religion.

Question 7

How did thinkers gain more knowledge of mathematics?

Answer 7

They learned about it from contact with the Muslim empires.

Question 8

How did the desire to explore the world lead to new knowledge?

Answer 8

Europeans had to learn to solve problems with navigation which led them to expand their knowledge. States supported voyages of exploration and provided funding to gain new knowledge.

Question 9

Who were three important scholars during the Scientific Revolution?

Answer 9

1. Copernicus 2. Galileo 3. Sir Isaac Newton

Question 10

What are the two types of reasoning that were used to form the scientific method?

Answer 10

1. deductive reasoning 2. empirical research

Question 11

What were two results of the Scientific Revolution?

Answer 11

1. development of the scientific method as a new way of gaining information about the world 2. development of an international scientific community that had the pursuit of knowledge as its main goal.

Question 12

Did the Enlightenment affect the lower classes in society?

Answer 12

It mainly occurred in the middle and upper classes as the lower classes were more worried about daily living. The philosophers of the Enlightenment thought they were bringing “the light of knowledge” to the masses who they believed were superstitious, ignorant, backward.

Question 13

How did the Scientific Revolution open the door for the Enlightenment?

Answer 13

It led people to question religion and the way things were setting the stage for the new ideas of the Enlightenment.

Question 14

In what country did the Enlightenment start?

Answer 14

France–under Louis XIV France had become the cultural center of Europe.

Question 15

How did ideas from France spread?

Answer 15

1. Educated people spoke French, allowing ideas to spread. 2. Tutors taught the elites of Europe. 3. Salons–parties hosted by middle and upper class women where new ideas were discussed.

Question 16

What are three important concepts of the Enlightenment?

Answer 16

1. Scientific method should be applied to gaining knowledge in all aspects of life: reason should be the most important force in society, nothing should be accepted on faith.
2. Laws of human socieity can be determined through the application of the scientific method to society –learn the laws that govern society–change society by understanding and changing the rules
3. Progress–humans can build a better society and improve themselves–don’t just hope for something better in the afterlife

Question 17

Who was Francois-Marie Arouet?

Answer 17

The French philosopher Voltaire. (1694-1778)

Question 18

What is Voltaire’s most famous work? What was it about?

Answer 18

Candide–a novel using satire and humor to comment on war, religious persecution, and philosophical optimism. Voltaire said there are disasters and suffering but we should try to make the world better while we are here.

Question 19

What is Voltaire’s idea of Enlightened Despotism?

Answer 19

The best form of government is an absolute monarchy but the monarch must be enlightened. Then the ruler will rule with the best interests of the people in mind.

Question 20

Why was Voltaire against a constitutional government?

Answer 20

He believed the majority of people were not educated enough to make informed decisions about government affairs.

Question 21

Which philosopher believed government exists to protect the basic rights of people?

Answer 21

John Locke

Question 22

According to John Locke, what should happen if government fails to protect the rights of people?

Answer 22

The people should rebel against the government.

Question 23

What are two events inspired by Locke’s ideas?

Answer 23

1. American Revolution 2. French Revolution

Question 24

What is one of John Locke’s most important works?

Answer 24

Essay Concerning Human Understanding 1690

Question 25

According to Locke, what is the idea of tabula rasa?

Answer 25

Tabula rasa means blank slate. Humans are born as a blank slate and our experiences shape the people we become. Nurture is more important than nature.

Question 26

According to Locke, how do we make the world a better place?

Answer 26

Make sure people have positive experiences so they become positive people. People are essentially good and will live good lives if we give them the opportunity to do so.

Question 27

Which philosopher wrote about the "social contract"?

Answer 27

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Question 28

Describe Voltaire's ideas about religion?

Answer 28

He was in favor of religious tolerance. He believed in Deism--that God is like a watchmaker who sets the world in motion but then stands back and lets things happen.

Question 29

Where was John Locke born?

Answer 29

England

Question 30

What type of government did John Locke support?

Answer 30

Representative government

Question 31

According to Locke what were some of the basic rights of people?

Answer 31

1. life 2. liberty 3. property

Question 32

Explain Rousseau's idea about the social contract.

Answer 32

Humans are basically good but are corrupted by the progress of civilization. Government should promote the general will--the common interest of the people. (This does not mean majority rule as some people may not be educated and know what's best for them.)

Question 33

What did Rousseau believe about women?

Answer 33

Women and men should operate in separate spheres. The private sphere belongs to women while the public sphere is for men. He valued what women did in the private sphere and believed they should be better educated. But, women are weaker than men in most areas except for love and compassion.

Question 34

Who is an example of an "enlightened despot"?

Answer 34

Frederick II--Frederick the Great of Prussia.

Question 35

What did Frederick the Great mean when he said he was the 1st servant of the state?

Answer 35

He believed it was up to him to enlighten the people, to help them develop their manners and their morals, and to make them happy.

Question 36

Was Frederick the Great tolerant of other religions?

Answer 36

He welcomed Jews and Catholics but only Protestants could hold important government positions.

Question 37

What improvements did Frederick the Great make in Prussia?

Answer 37

1. improved schools and encouraged education 2. simplified the legal system and abolished torture 3. promoted agriculture and industry to benefit the economic welfare of the people and the state (but he did not do anything to change the conditions of the serfs)

Question 38

What German princess married the heir to the Russian throne and then took over after he became tsar?

Answer 38

Catherine the Great

Question 39

What were the 3 goals of Catherine the Great?

Answer 39

1. expand territory 2. westernize the thinking of the Russian people 3. improve domestic conditions

Question 40

How did Catherine expand her territory?

Answer 40

She tried to challenge the Ottoman Empire but dropped that at the suggestion of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Russia, Prussia, and Austria divided up Poland instead.

Question 41

How did Catherine try to westernize the Russian people?

Answer 41

She brought in Western experts in the arts and sciences to spread their ideas in Russia. She had the Russian nobility obtain education in the West.

Question 42

What were some of Catherine's domestic policies?

Answer 42

1. expanded educational opportunities 2. limited torture 3. granted some religious toleration (but not to Jews) BUT, she put down a rebellion of peasants and gave more powers to the nobles.

Question 43

What were some of the policies of Joseph II of Austria?

Answer 43

1. promoted education 2. extended religious freedom--including to the Jews 3. required German to be the language of the government (this did not please the Hungarians were were used to being treated special in exchange for their loyalty) 4. first he limited the amount of labor a serf must give their noble person and then he abolished serfdom in 1781. 5. Made debts payable in cash only--no more barter system. (This was hard on the peasants.)