The Enlightenment The Enlightenment & & Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution

AP World HistoryAP World History

Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution

Middle Ages to the 1600s – scientific Middle Ages to the 1600s – scientific thought was based on ancient thinkers thought was based on ancient thinkers like Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Galenlike Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Galen

Catholic Church doctrine was also Catholic Church doctrine was also important -earth was the center of the important -earth was the center of the universe, dissection of human bodies universe, dissection of human bodies was forbiddenwas forbidden

An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1768

EnlightenmeEnlightenmentntThe Enlightenment was a cultural and The Enlightenment was a cultural and

philosophical movement that grew out philosophical movement that grew out of new methods of inquiry. of new methods of inquiry.

The basic premise of the Enlightenment The basic premise of the Enlightenment was the superiority of reasonwas the superiority of reason

Political SciencePolitical Science

AbsolutismAbsolutism is questioned by is questioned by

political philosophers who believed in political philosophers who believed in natural lawnatural law or the principle that universal or the principle that universal truth that can be found with truth that can be found with reasonreason

Thomas Hobbes & John LockeThomas Hobbes & John Locke

Enlightened DespotsEnlightened DespotsEuropean monarchs who were European monarchs who were eager to bring political and social eager to bring political and social change to their countrieschange to their countries

Sought to govern by Sought to govern by Enlightenment principles Enlightenment principles while maintaining royal while maintaining royal powerspowersFrederick II of Prussia, Catherine II of Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia, & Maria Theresa of AustriaRussia, & Maria Theresa of Austria

Basic Principles of the Basic Principles of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Humans behave according to Humans behave according to natural laws based on natural laws based on

reasonreason

Human beings are naturally Human beings are naturally good and can be educated to good and can be educated to

do betterdo betterReligions that relied on faith or refused to Religions that relied on faith or refused to tolerate diversity were wrongtolerate diversity were wrong

Society’s goals should center on Society’s goals should center on improvements in material and social lifeimprovements in material and social life

Enlightenment ThinkersEnlightenment ThinkersBelieved earth was round & sun was center of the Believed earth was round & sun was center of the universeuniverse

CopernicusCopernicus

Published his theories on gravity; wrote Published his theories on gravity; wrote Principia; Principia; developed calculusdeveloped calculus

NewtonNewton

Believed Copernicus; published his ideas & was Believed Copernicus; published his ideas & was threatened with torture and death by the Catholic Churchthreatened with torture and death by the Catholic Church

GalileoGalileo

Believed state of nature of man was reasonable; wrote Believed state of nature of man was reasonable; wrote that that people created govt. ergo, people had the right to people created govt. ergo, people had the right to overthrow the governmentoverthrow the government

LockeLocke

……more Enlightenment Thinkersmore Enlightenment ThinkersEnglish philosopher who helped develop the English philosopher who helped develop the scientific scientific methodmethod

BaconBacon

that violence and disorder came natural to that violence and disorder came natural to human beings; believed in the human beings; believed in the “social “social contract”contract”

HobbesHobbes

individuals surrender some of their freedoms and

submit to the authority of the

ruler in exchange for protection of their remaining

rights

Such then is the human condition, that to wish

greatness for one's country is to wish harm

to one's neighbors.

Wrote Wrote Candide; Candide; challenged idea that everything challenged idea that everything happens for the best; admired English ideal of happens for the best; admired English ideal of religious liberty & freedom of the pressreligious liberty & freedom of the press

VoltaireVoltaire

Promoted idea of Promoted idea of separation of powersseparation of powers; ; MontesquieuMontesquieu

Enlightenment PhilosophersEnlightenment Philosophers