European History Unit 4: Enlightenment and Enlightened Despots

When did Deism develop?

18th century

What kind of books did Voltaire use to spread his ideas?

70+ books and 12 plays, specifically Candide a satirical book

What was the Enlightenment?

A movement from the 17th to the 18th century where reason changed the west

Why is he called the most radical of the Enlightened Despots?

Abolished serfdom and gave more rights to peasants Abolished forced labor known as robot Religious toleration for all Christians and Jews Reduced the influence of the Roman Catholic Church Reformed the Judicial system Abolished torture and death penalty

What does rationalism mean?

All knowledge comes from reason

What is enlightened despotism?

An absolutist ruler, who likes Enlightenment philosophy

What was Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations about?

Arguments for capitalism

What were the two sides of the War?

Austria and Britain versus Prussia and France

What caused the Seven Years' War?

Austria wants Silesia back and Fighting breaks out in Pittsburg

Where and when did Joseph II rule

Austria, 1780-1790

What were the two sides

Austria, France, Russia, and Sweden versus Prussia and Britain

How did he rule as an Enlightened Despot

Called himself the first servant of the state Invited Voltaire to live in his palace supported scientific agriculture Restricted the practice of torture Allowed religious toleration for Jews and Huguenots Attempted to create a new law code (meritocracy)

What was Diderot's goal in writing the Encyclopedie?

Change the modern way of thinking, spread enlightenment thinking across Europe and North America. Arguments to reject authority

What were Rousseau's views on education?

Children should receive "Natural Education"

How did she rule as an Enlightened Despot?

Corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot Supported Russia's first private printing press provided formal education for daughters of nobility restricted the practice of torture religious toleration for Jews attempted to create a new law code

What were Diderot's religious views?

Democracy will not come "until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest"

What two major philosophers believed in innate ideas?

Descartes and Leibniz

What were Voltaire's religious views?

Didn't believe in God

What is Locke's philosophy called?

Empiricism

When and where did Locke live?

England, 17th to 18th century

What were the five great powers in Europe at the time?

England, France, Austrian Empire, Russia, Prussia

Which countries did not?

France and Britain

Where and when did Descartes live?

France, 16th to 17th century

Where and when did Voltaire live?

France, 17th to 18th century

Where and when did Diderot live?

France, 18th century

Who were the philosophes?

French for philosopher, interested in practical issues, wanted to improve society through rational thinking and new ideas

What did Herbert of Cherbury teach?

God exists should be worshipped Ethical Standards Need for repentance Reward and punishment

What royal family ruled Austria?

Hapsburgs

How did Descartes unintentionally open the door for atheism?

He emphasized reason over faith

What did Montisquieu believe about absolutism?

He wanted to limit it

Why was he the least effective?

His successors undid most of the reforms

What royal family ruled Prussia?

Hohenzollern

What was Voltaire's view of government?

Hope for an Enlightened king, benevolent dictator

What is epistemology?

How do we know what we know?

What is Locke's view of tabula rasa?

Humans are born knowing nothing and all ideas come from the experiences they have

What kind of argument does Descartes use to prove God's Existence?

I can think about perfect, I am not perfect, The idea of perfection must have come from somewhere, the only place it could have come from is a perfect being, which is God

What does "cogito ergo sum" mean?

I think therefore I am

What was Rousseau's social contract?

Individuals enter into a social contract with each other where only the general will of the people can rule

How did Locke's political views influence the United States?

Influenced the Declaration of Independence

What do Philosophers think about Descartes reasoning?

It is slightly weak

What famous American president believed in a limited form of Deism

Jefferson

What was the name of Beccaria's book?

On Crimes and Punishment

What important concept of government did he write about in The Spirit of Laws?

Outlines the separation of power into three branches

Where and when did Frederick the Great RUle

Prussia, 1740-1786

What is "Natural Education"

Raise children outside of the corrupting influence of society

What is Descartes philosophy called?

Rationalism

What two important concepts did Hume doubt our ability to understand?

Rationalism and Religion

What was the book about?

Reforming the penal system: no torture, arbitrary imprisonment, and capital punishment. Valued prevention of crime over punishment of crime

What are the four major characteristics of the Age of Enlightenment?

Reject Authority, trust in human reason, belief in progress, fight for liberty

What were Hume's religious beliefs?

Religious skeptic, undermined faith with the power of reason

Where and when did Catherine the Great rule?

Russia, 1762 to 1796

Which countries embraced Enlightened Despotism?

Russia, Prussia, and Austria

What two factors led to its development?

Scientific Revolution and rationalism

Where and when did Hume live?

Scotland 1711-1776

What two historic events created an epistemological crisis in Europe, leading people to search for a more certain way to know what is true?

The Reformation and the Scientific Revolution

What is empiricism?

The belief that all knowledge comes from experience

What caused the War of Austrian Succession?

The emperor of Austria dies and Maria Teresa becomes ruling sovereign. Frederick the Great spots a weakness and takes Silesia

What important work did Diderot compile?

The first modern encyclopedia

How did those two royal families get along

They didn't

What are the four specific policies of Enlightened Despotism?

Toleration of religious minorities, reform of institutions, patronage of the philosophes, and absolutism

How did the war end?

Treaty of Aix-la-chapelle. Frederick keeps Silesia, the Madras go back to the French, and Louisburg goes back to the French.

How did the war end?

Treaty of Paris 1763, Britain gets Canada and the French keep the sugar islands

What is one way she ignored the Philosophes

Wars against the Ottoman Empire and Poland. Mercilessly put down a serf rebellion

What did Locke believe about Christianity?

Was raised a puritan, but valued reason above God. Also believed that the government shouldn't coerce people to faith

What is one way he ignored the philosophes?

Went to war over Silesia

What was the question Descartes was looking to answer?

What can we know with absolute certainty?

What was the first Principle of Descartes' philosophy?

"Cogito Ergo Sum"

What did Immanuel Kant say was the motto of the Enlightenment?

"Dare to Know"

What is the title of Locke's book concerning epistmeology?

"Essay concerning human understanding"

Why is deism called a "Religion of Nature"?

focuses around nature

What are innate ideas?

ideas that all humans are born with

What was the most common form of government during the 18th century?

monarchy

What is Deism?

the belief that God is transcendent but not immanent