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The Enlightenment - Coggle Diagram
The Enlightenment
It was an intellectual movement borned in the 17th century. They believed that the reason was the only way to understand the world.
they also believed in:
Religious tolerance, they believed in god, but also believed that no religion was superior to other.
They supported freedom of thought, as a necessary feature of a more tolerant society.
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Some of the Enlightenment thinkers were: Descartes, Diderot, Hume, Kant, Voltaire, Madame Geoffrin or Olympe de Gouges. Had their meetings in cafes or salons that were usually hosted by women.
They promoted changes mostly through their writings and sometimes, through their influence on European rulers:
SOCIAL CHANGES
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They said that all individuals were equal that no one should have prestige or privileges or be untitled to them because of their ancestors.
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They also believed that human were naturally good, that at birth all were created the same (good and equal) and society corrupts them, progress was really important.
NEW ECONOMIC IDEAS
They opposed mercantilism, the economic system that was favoured by absolutism. They thought that the wealthy of the country comes from agriculture and productive work
They also defined economic liberalism, which was formulated by Adam Smith, he said: “It is in the common interest that all individuals be able to secure their own economic self-interest”.
Liberal economists and political theorists emphasize the importance of private property, consider that governments should not interfere in the economy with regulations
NEW POLITICAL IDEAS
They opposed absolutism. It was considered arbitrary and subject to error. They also thought that despotism was also against the happiness of a majority.
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Montesquieu proposed the division of powers: legislative, executive and judicial
ENLIGHTENED DESPOTISM
Some European monarchs were influenced by the
Enlightenment. Of course, they opposed the ideas of
liberalism, which could threaten their position of power.
They were mostly ideas about economic progress
Some enlightened monarchs were: Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, Gustav III of Sweden, and Charles III of Spain . The motto of Enlightened Despotism: “All for the people, nothing by the people”.
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spread of knowledge
Correspondence between Enlightenment thinkers and scientists stimulated the spread of knowledge. People travelled to exchange and debate ideas.
The Encyclopédie :
It appeared in the second half of the 18th century. The editors were Diderot and D’Alembert, it had 20 volumes. The porpouse was bringing together all knowledge of the time. Sharing all this to anyone who could read. Presenting critical ideas from Enlightenment thinkers