Enlightenment and
Revolution
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The Scientific Revolution
Before 1500, European scholars
typically referred only to Greek/Roman
authors or the Bible
It was very rare for scholars to go
outside of these references
The Scientific Revolution
Middle Ages - geocentric universe
Sun, moon, stars
and planets seem
to go around the
Earth
Believed that
God made Earth
so it must have
a deliberate
location at the
center of the
universe
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The Scientific Revolution
During the mid 1500s scholars began
publishing works that challenged the
old ideas
introduced a new way of thinking about
the natural world
based on careful observation and
willingness to question old beliefs
The Scientific Revolution
Impact of the Scientific Revolution was
influenced by:
travel/trade with Africa, Asia and
Americas
printing press
exploration - need for better instruments
and ways of locating
Copernicus
after 25 years of study, he realized that
the Earth revolved around the sun
(heliocentric)
was very controversial, not well received
by other scholars or clergy
Tycho Brahe studied the mathematical
movements
Johannes Kepler proved that the
planets orbit in an ellipse
Galileo
built on new ideas of astronomy
telescope
Starry Messenger - announced his new
ideas about the universe to the public
Jupiter has 4 moons
Earth’s moon is rough and pitted
observations supporting Copernicus
Galileo’s ideas frightened the Church
Galileo & the Church
the Church was feared people questioning all
teachings
Galileo was warned to keep quiet
he published a book presenting both helio and
geo-centric universes
the Pope summoned Galileo to stand trial for
his beliefs
on threat of torture, he stated that Copernicus was
wrong
died under house arrest
Galileo’s ideas and writings still spread
throughout Europe
The Scientific Method
gathering and testing of ideas
problem
hypothesis
experimentation / collect data
analysis / interpretation
conclusion
Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes helped to
advance the new idea
both criticized the reliance on old ideas
emphasized logic and experimentation to come up
with new ideas
Newton
realized that all physical objects were
influenced by the same forces in nature
every object in the universe attracts every
other object
published The Mathematical Principles
of Natural Philosophy
explained that the universe works like a
giant clock
Spread of the Revolution
Many inventions and discoveries were
being made in different realms
microscope (Janssen- an eyeglass maker)
bacteria and blood cells (Leeuwenhoek)
mercury barometer (Torricelli)
mercury thermometer (Fahrenheit & Celsius)
human anatomy- bones, muscle structure
and organs (Vesalius)
smallpox vaccine (Jenner)
Chemistry
Robert Boyle - challenged the idea of 4
basic elements
thought all matter was made of smaller
particles that could be combined in many
ways
Boyle’s Law - relates volume, temperature
and gas pressure
Galileo - Battle for the Heavens
- Who would you have agreed with - tradition or science?
- Do you think the Church treated Galileo fairly?
- What do you think Galileo should have done, rather than
being so arrogant and facetious?
pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/galileo-battle-for-the-heavens.html
- ch 1
- ch 3
- ch 5a
- ch 10
The Enlightenment
the Scientific Revolution caused
scholars and philosophers to reevaluate
old ideas
government
economics
religion
education
This time period became known as the
“Age of Reason”
The Enlightenment
ideas started by John Locke and
Thomas Hobbes
came to very different conclusions on
government and human nature
Thomas Hobbes
English Civil War convinced Hobbes that all
humans are naturally selfish and wicked
“without government there would war… of every
man against every man,”
“life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and
short.”
social contract - people create a government
hand over rights in order to gain law and order
Hobbes thought an absolute ruler was best
John Locke
believed that people could learn from their
experiences and improve themselves
people should govern themselves and look after
the welfare of society
natural rights - every human has the right to
life, liberty and property
the purpose of government is to protect those
rights
citizens have the right to overthrow the
government
The Philosophes
France, mid 1700s
people who wanted to critique and discuss
politics and ideas, believed that reason could
be applied to all aspects of life
5 core concepts
Reason - truth through logic
Nature - natural things are good and reasonable
Happiness - find joy now, not after death
Progress - society can improve
Liberty - rights for citizens
The Philosophes
Voltaire
most influential of the
philosophes
targeted the clergy,
aristocracy and
government
wrote against prejudice
and intolerance
Fought for tolerance,
reason, freedom of
religion and speech
jailed twice, exiled to
England for 2 years
Montesquieu
studied political liberty,
praised the English
system of government
praised the division of
power among the
branches of government
his system of checks
and balances influenced
the US Constitution
The Philosophes
Rousseau
thought civilization
corrupted people’s
natural goodness
the only good
government was a
direct democracy
all people are equal, no
titles of nobility should
exists
Beccaria
laws exist to preserve
order, not punish
crimes
criticized abuses of
justice (torture of suspects,
irregular proceedings in
trials)
wanted to get rid of
capital punishment
governments should
seek the greatest good
for the greatest number
of people
Women and the Enlightenment
While the Philosophes critiques politics and
society, many did not address women
Mary Astell - criticized lack of education and
unequal relationship between men and
women
“if all men are born free, how is it that all women
are born slaves?”
Mary Wollstonecraft - thought women should
be equally educated, and should participate in
medicine and politics
Results of the Enlightenment
belief in progress, refusal to accept tradition
more secular outlook
rise of the “individual”
Modern Philosophes
How would you change the following
elements of society to make them more
fair/equal to everyone?
government
education
What role should the following elements play
in everyday life?
education
religion
rules/laws of the government
Spread of the Enlightenment
Salons - philosophers, writers, artists, scientists and
intellectuals met to discuss ideas
hosted by wealthy women
Marie-Therese Geoffrin - most influential hostess
Diderot’s Encyclopedia - financed by Geoffrin
consisted of essays and articles written by
Enlightenment thinkers
was originally banned by the Catholic Church
was extremely successful - spread throughout
Europe
Spread of the Enlightenment
Other influential essays/writings
Starry Messenger - Galileo
Leviathan - Hobbes
On The Spirit of Laws - Montesquieu
The Social Contract - Rousseau
A Vindication of the Rights of Women Mary Wollstonecraft
New Artistic Styles
Baroque - music and art style of the 1600s and early
1700s (extremely ornate, elaborate)
Enlightenment influenced a simpler, more elegant
style that was influenced by classical Greece and
Rome
became known as “neoclassical”
Baroque
- Bach
- Handel
Neoclassical
- Hayden
- Mozart
- Beethoven
Novels became extremely popular - made plots, used
suspense, explored characters
Enlightened Despots
Read over pp. 204-205, fill in the
handout about the changes the
monarchs made.
At the bottom of the page, describe
what an “enlightened despot” is.
Enlightened Despots
Frederick the
Great
Joseph II
Catherine the
Great
Blue-
Green-
Flame-
Paint-
4 stations~10 minutes at each station
A - timeline of events of the Revolution
B - Enlightenment Inspiration
C - Abuses of King George
D - New American Government
American Revolution
break into 4 groups based upon what color
you pull out of the bag. Sit with your group.
Scientific Revolution
- Copernicus, heliocentric, geocentric
- Galileo
- Newton
- Scientific Method
-
Enlightenment
- Hobbes
- Locke
- Voltaire
- Montesquieu
- Rousseau
- Beccaria
- Women’s role
-
-
American Revolution
-
Influence of the Enlightenment
Reason for American revolution
Why Americans won
checks and balances
Federal system
Study Guide
-
Spread of the Enlightenment
-
Salons
Encyclopedia
Baroque vs. Neoclassical
Enlightened Despots (Frederick the Great, Joseph II, Catherine the Great)