Catégories : Tous - literacy - enlightenment - economy - population

par Arnaout Alissar Il y a 9 années

2750

The Age of Enlightenment

The Enlightenment era saw significant population growth, driven by a decline in death rates due to fewer wars, fewer epidemics, and improved hygiene and sanitation. This increase in population led to greater demands for food, jobs, goods, and services.

The Age of Enlightenment

Alissar Arnaout

The Age of Enlightenment

Trends of the Enlightenment

"Natural Religion"
Deism

"My own mind is my own church" - Paine

God created universe & let it run

God didn't participate directly in human affairs

Irrational to imagine a world without God

Rejection of traditional religion
Simplification of religious ritual
Le Cafe
Less private
Intellectuals could discuss ideas over coffee
Didn't need invitation (anyone can go)
Salons "Living room"
Class & religion was less important
Men & women were almost equal
Gave sheltered outlet to say views
Intellectuals gathered to present and exchange ideas

Literacy & Knowledge

Books & book production
Writers & intellectuals presented & exchanged ideas
The Encyclopedia (1751)

Summarized advances in biology, chemistry, medicine & engineering

Subjects: Government, social system & religion

Editors & contributors: Jean d'Alembert, Diderot, Montesqueiu, Voltaire, Rousseau, etc.

- Movable type → many copies - Newspapers → Gazettes
Government advisors → literate population was an advantage
More readers & writers

Spread of ideas of thinkers

Enlightenment Thinkers / Philosophes
Adam Smith

Economic

- proponent of free trade - against mercantile system - greater & more competitive trade - "Invisible hand of competition" - Capitalist economy

Montesquieu

- Laws & customs → products of society's condition - pondered effects of climate, social & sexual customs

- Nature of things → consequence of politics - monarchy was the best government

Rousseau

- Didn't accept Enlightenment - looked down on luxury → French life was artificial - "State of Nature" - innocence of children & corruption of society

Political authority → "general will" & "common good"

Voltaire

- defended tolerance - attacked religious piety - criticized severity of punishment

- èrasez l'infâme → crush infamy

John Locke

Social

- defended rights to own property → essential to well-ordered society - leaving "state of nature" → enter well-ordered society

Political

- Defended need for elected governments - uphold freedom & tolerance - government looked after people - people had right to overthrow government & elect leaders

Government & Nobility

Government
Monarchies

constrained by tradition, religion & obedience to legal precedents

Rulers

- could be children - sick - insane

Royal court

nobles fought for position with eye on the heir to the throne

full of personal intrigue & scandal

nobility get power & rewards

- Attention to military strength - Not much attention to public opinion
Nobility
Weakening of nobility

18th century → social authority of nobility weakened

Leaders & court were unhappy with greed and demand for protection of privileges

Saw themselves as superior

Collected rent from peasant farmers or had them work for wages

Collected taxes from peasants/farmers/labourers

Demanded obedience from those who worked on their property

Enjoyed profits from crops & other products of the land

Industrial Revolution

Gradual series of changes in agriculture, trade & industry
Rise of the merchant class
Consumerism

Money increased → new middle/ merchant class

Joint-stock companies increased volume of trade

Spread of capitalism

Rural economy was the root of national wealth

Technology

- spinning jenny - water-powered frame - flying shuttle

Increased production

Created consumerism

What is the Enlightenment?

Cogito Ergo Sum
Old idea: absolute monarch New idea: government rules because of people
criticizing absolutism and new ideas about government
New ideas in areas outside science
"I think therefore I am"
Believed
freedom of thought; criticized unquestioned obedience
everything could be explained by natural laws
universe is understood through reason

Population Growth

Population explosion
Politically discontented
Socially disadvantaged
Rise in population → demands for food, jobs, goods and services
Increased & improved food supply → agricultural production
Decline in number of deaths due to: Fewer wars, epidemics and improved hygiene & sanitation

Land & Agriculture

Advantage/gain
Aimed to produce surplus to be sold on open market
commercialized
Radical change in land distribution
Enclosure: landlords consolidate land as their own
Range of productivity on farms
- Aristocrats - resident farmers - peasants - labourers
Agricultural Revolution
Developments/inventions in methods of agricultural production

seed drill → improved planting

steel plow → turned over soil

Natural fertilizers and rotation of crops