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The 18th century: the Enlightenment - Coggle Diagram
The 18th century: the Enlightenment
The Enlightenment
Was an important intellectual movement and a new way of thinking
In Europe during the 18th century
Enlightenment thinkers criticised the political and social structures of the Ancien Régime
The main principles
Learning and teaching are essential
Reason is the only real source of knowledge
Science and technological progress would lead to economic growth and improve people's wellbeing
Equality and liberty are crucial
The political ideas
Montesquieu argued for the separation of powers
Voltaire favoured a strong monarchy
Enlightenment thinkers did not support absolute monarchy and they proposed measures to limit its powers
Separation of powers and popular sovereignty
Rousseau introduced the idea of popular sovereignty
The economic ideas
Physiocracy is the belief that the wealth of a nation derives from its natural resources
Physiocrats believed that
Agriculture is a country's main source of wealth because it provides the products needed for food
The raw materials for craftsmanship
Craftsmanship and trade are secondary activities
The state, absolute monarchs, should not intervene in the economy
Economic liberalism
The basic principle, is that the state should not intervene in the processes of production or exchange of goods
Economic liberals argued
Freedom of production for business owners
Free trade, the exchange of goods between countries without any restrictions
Free competition, would force the business owner to improve the quality of his or her products and/or reduce prices in order to sell