THE ENLIGHTENMENT
CHARACTERISTICS
Before the Enlightenment
Many people were illiterate
Started in France
Spread to America
Noblemen, bourgeoisie and clergymen
Optimistic intellectual movement
Expressed hope through
Reason
Progress
Happiness
EVOLUTION
Reformist movement
Defended its aims through reforms of
Politics
Society
Economy
Culture
Lot of importance
Education
Pedagogy
Innovations
Scientific
Technical
More radical critique of
Political and social system
THINKERS
MONTESQUIEU
VOLTAIRE
ROUSSEAU
French magistrate
Criticised absolute monarchies
Proposed a moderate monarchy
Separation of the executive, legislative and judicial powers
Wealthy, middle-class property owner
Criticised
Religious fanaticism
The structure of the Church
In favour of enlightened despotism
Fought for civil rights and judicial reform
Middle-class background
Proposed a model of society
Sovereignty was in the hands
Of the people
Not of the king
Believed that society should be guided
By the general will expressed
Directly by the sovereign people
Supported democracy
SPREAD OF IDEAS
The Enlightened ideas
Were printed
In the press and in books
The Encyclopédie
Most important book
Edited by French Enlightenment thinkers
Diderot
D'Alembert
28 volumes were published
To summarise the knowledge of the era
Topics and ideas
Organised alphabetically
A new development at the time
25,000 people subscribed
WOMEN
Newspapers
Published daily, weekly and on Sundays
First Spanish newspaper
Diario noticioso, curioso, erudito, comercial y político
Word of mouth
Gatherings
Of the nobility and upper middle class
In coffee houses, taverns and salons
Reading societies
First public libraries
Books could be borrowed
More books were published
Books on religion were replaced
Books on science, the arts, philosophy and literature
Academies
Scientists and intellectuals gathered
Lectures were given
Scientific and literary works were read
Practical work was carried out
Topographical, agricultural and climate studies
Dictionaries and climate studies
Dictionaries and statistics on population
These studies were supported by monarchs
Were interested in implementing political reforms
They created important academies
Academies of sciences
In Paris, St. Petersburg and Berlin
Experienced inequality and subordination
Wealthy women protested
About women's social situation
MARIE-THÉRÈSE RODET
Attended the literary salons of Paris
Started her own salon
SCIENCE, LITERATURE AND ART
ÉMILIE DU CHÀTELET
MARÍA GAETANA AGNESI
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
A mathematician, physicist and writer
Translated Newton's theories into French
Helped disseminate his theories in France
Met with important scientists
Worked with Voltaire
A teacher, linguist and mathematician
Published a number of books on calculus
Were used in teaching
One of the first feminist
A translator
Wrote
Tales and short stories
An important treatise on women's rights
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Taught at the University of Bologna
Spoke several languages
