Let’s Learn More about the Enlightenment!
Global History and Geography
Name:
Who’s who in the European Enlightenment?
Voltaire
(1694-1778)
“I do not agree with a
word that you say, but I
will defend to the death
your right to say it”
Rousseau
(1712-1778)
“Man is born free, but
everywhere he is in
chains.”
Locke
(1632-1704)
“Man... hath by nature a
power ....to preserve his
property - that is, his life,
liberty, and estate against the injuries and
attempts of other men.”
Hobbes
This French philosopher
and writer criticized the
power of the clergy or
church leaders. He
advocated religious
tolerance.
This French philosopher
wrote The Social
Contract. The people
agreed to be governed as
long as government
protects their rights.
This British philosopher
believed in natural rights
or a person’s right to life,
liberty, and property.
Natural rights limited the
power of the government.
This British philosopher
argued that a strong
(1588-1679)
government was necessary
"… that during the time
to maintain social peace
men live without a common
and order.
power to keep them all in
awe, they are in that
condition which is called
war; and such a war as is
of every man against every
man".

Questions:
1. Who was Voltaire and what did he believe?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What belief did Rousseau and Locke share?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Why did Hobbes believe a strong government was necessary?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Explain Voltaire’s quote:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Which philosopher do you agree with? Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Multiple-Choice Questions:
1. Which heading best completes the partial outline below?
I. ______________________
A. Writings of Thomas Hobbes
B. Divine right theory
C. Centralization of political
power
D. Reign of Louis XIV
(1) Beginning of Global Trade
(2) Growth of Democracy in Europe
(3) Rise of Absolutism
(4) Age of Exploration
One way in which Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau are similar is that they
were
(1) philosophers during the Age of Enlightenment
(2) chief ministers during the French Revolution
(3) leaders of the Italian unification movement
(4) supporters of the Counter Reformation
In Two Treatises of Government, John Locke wrote that the purpose of government
was to
(1) keep kings in power
(2) regulate the economy
(3) expand territory
(4) protect natural rights
Questions:
1: What is a New Year’s Resolution?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2: Why did Calvin not make any New Year’s resolutions?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3: How are Calvin’s beliefs similar to Voltaire’s?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4: Is Hobbes right? Can too much tolerance be a problem?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5: But seriously, why is toleration important?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Word Bank:
Experimentation, Philosophe, Humanism, Renaissance, Arts, Greeks, Voltaire,
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Confucius, Secularism, Enlightenment, Scientific

“The first man who, having enclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying
(said) ‘This is mine,’ and found people simple enough to believe him, was the real
founder of civil society. Humanity would have been spared (saved) infinite crimes,
wars, homicides, murders, if only someone had ripped up the fences or filled in the
ditches and said, "Do not listen to this pretender! You are eternally lost if you do
not remember that the fruits of the earth are everyone's property and that the land
is no-one's property!" But by that point things had changed so drastically that there
was no turning back, for this idea of "property," which develops out of prior ideas,
did not form spontaneously in the human mind. Men had to progress, acquiring
knowledge and arts, transmitting and increasing these from generation to
generation, before they reached the last stage in the natural human state. I shall
endeavor, then, to explain the progress of events and discoveries from the
perspective of their natural order.”
~ Rousseau
Questions:
1. What did the “first man” do?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Why would there be no crime, war, homicide, or murder if the “first
man” had not done this?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What should the people have said to the “first man”?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
And so, rules and government were born.
But what kind of government is best for society?
Which rules make the most sense for society?
Ah, now, you are thinking like an Enlightenment thinker.
So, it’s your turn:
What type of political system or government do you believe is best for
society?
_________________________________________________________________
List three essential or necessary rules for society:
1. ______________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________
Rene Descartes
“If you would be a real seeker after truth,
it is necessary that at least once in your life
you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
Questions:
1: What did Descartes believe was necessary in order for a person to become a real
seeker of truth?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2: Do you agree with Descartes? Explain your answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
But remember the Scientific Method.
How could the Scientific Method help a philosopher solve a societal problem?
Now, you try?
1. State a Problem in Society:
________________________________________________________________
2. Make Observations:
_________________________________________________________________
3. Form a Hypothesis:
__________________________________________________________________
4. Experiment:
__________________________________________________________________
5. Conclusion: _______________________________________________________