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The 18th century: the Enlightenment, and/or - Coggle Diagram
The 18th century: the Enlightenment
The 18th century was a time of transition
between the Early Modern Age and the Modern Age in Europe
important changes took place which contributed to the collapse of the Ancien Régime
The Enlightenment
an important intellectual movement and a new way of thinking
emerged in Europe during the 18th century
Enlightenment thinkers
criticised the political and social structures of the Ancien Régime
They were able to shape some of the changes that took place in these years
main principles of Enlightenment thought
reason is the only real source of knowledge
rather than irrational beliefs and dogma
science and technological progress
would lead to economic growth and improve people's wellbeing
learning and teaching are essential
people must learn as much as possible
people must share their knowledge
to educate and enlighten' society
equality and liberty are crucial
they believed that a better society
only possible
if all men were free and equal before the law
Enlightenment ideas
were spread through
books
academies
salons
special meetings organised in people's homes
newspapers
D'Alembert and Diderot
created an extensive collection of writings
The encyclopedia
It summarised knowledge from many areas of study in alphabetical order
THE POLITICAL IDEAS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Enlightenment thinkers
estates system
make all citizens equal before the law
did not support absolute monarchy
they proposed measures to limit its powers
the separation of powers
popular sovereignty.
Montesquieu
argued for the separation of powers
the three branches of government should be separate from one another
This would stop power being concentrated in one person
Voltaire
favoured a strong monarchy
he also thought its power should be limited by parliament
Rousseau
introduced the idea of popular sovereignty
He argued that
power resided with the people rather than the crown
politics should be based on agreement
between the citizens and their government
THE ECONOMIC IDEAS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Enlightenment thinkers rejected mercantilism
They advocated a new economic doctrine
physiocracy
agriculture
is a country's main source of wealth
because it provides
the raw materials for craftsmanship
the products needed for food
craftsmanship and trade
secondary activities
is the belief that the wealth of a nation
derives from its natural resources
the state, that is to say
absolute monarchs, should not intervene in the economy
ECONOMIC LIBERALISM
The basic principle
the state should not intervene in the processes of production or exchange of goods
Instead
it should allow individual business owners to create wealth
economic liberals argued for
freedom of production for business owners
they could produce as much as the market demanded
free trade
the exchange of goods between countries without any restrictions
free competition
would force the business owner to
reduce prices in order to sell
improve the quality of his or her products
and/or