Absolutism & Enlightenment

Aim: How are Humanism, Protestant Reformation, Absolutism, and The Enlightenment Connected?

Do Now: Take a quiz, you will have 10 minutes

Lesson Overview:

Item	Approx Time
Do Now	3-5 Min
Mini Lesson	15-20 Min
Activity	15 Min
Discussion	5-7 Min

Humanism

Humanism was an intellectual movement where people began to focus on life in the present, which was in contrast to the Middle Ages' focus on the after life. Humanism stressed the importance of education, with the study of ancient Greek and Roman texts becoming the learning standard. Humanism stressed the importance of the individual. This movement was the driving force of the Renaissance and is reflected in the period's artistic, literary, and scientific achievements.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Humanist ideas are reflected in works of Renaissance literature. The most famous writer of the time, William Shakespeare, wrote 37 plays between 1590 and 1613. His plays reflect the ideas of individualism and the unconquerable human spirit, and most of them are still performed today. Other important Renaissance authors include Dante, who wrote The Divine Comedy, and Miguel de Cervantes who wrote the comedic tale Don Quixote. Besides works of fiction, writings on political philosophy reappeared during this time period. The most well know political philosopher of the Renaissance was Niccolo Machiavelli, whose book The Prince, reads as a "how to" guide for successful rule.

The Prince an in depth look at the major themes and interpretation.

The Rise of the Absolute Monarchy

The rise of absolute monarchies dates back to the seventeenth (1600s) and eighteenth centuries (1700s), when several monarchs in western and eastern Europe increased the power of their central governments. In doing so, these kings, emperors, or sultans secured their position as the supreme ruler and possessor of all power. They surrounded themselves with followers and advisors who were strong advocates of royal absolutism. For those that opposed their behavior and seizure of power they replied that they had been granted the divine right of kings.

The Divine Right of Kings

A doctrine in defense of monarchical absolutism, which asserted that kings derived their authority from God and could not therefore be held accountable for their actions by any earthly authority such as a parliament. Originating in Europe, the divine-right theory can be traced to the medieval conception of God’s award of temporal power to the political ruler, paralleling the award of spiritual power to the church. By the 16th and 17th centuries, however, the new national monarchs were asserting their authority in matters of both church and state. The theory claimed that kings were answerable only to God and it was therefore sinful for their subjects to resist them. This idea exploded throughout Europe during the Age of Absolutism.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment developed as an extension of the Scientific Revolution. During the Scientific Revolution, Europeans discarded traditional beliefs and began using reason to explain the world around them. While the Scientific Revolution focused on the physical world, the Enlightenment attempted to explain the purpose of government, and describe the best form of it. The most influential Enlightenment thinkers were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Voltaire, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes based his theories on government on his belief that man was basically greedy, selfish, and cruel. In his book, Leviathan, Hobbes states that life would be a state of constant warfare without a strong government to control man's natural impulses. He believed people would enter into a Social Contract to escape from this. In the Social Contract, people would exchange most of their freedoms for the safety of organized society. Once people entered into this contract, there was no release. Hobbes did not believe in revolutions, and supported the idea of absolute monarchs. Hobbes Summary

Wrote Leviathan Believed in Absolute Monarchy as best form of government Did not believe in Revolutions Did not believe in Natural Rights Rights only came from the government

Locke

Locke also based his theories on his assessment of human nature. However, Locke believed that people could be reasonable and moral. In his book, Two Treatises of Government, Locke explained that all men have Natural Rights, which are Life, Liberty, and Property, and that the purpose of government was to protect these rights. Furthermore, Locke states that if government did not protect these rights, and became abusive, then the people had a right to revolution. Locke supported a limited government that protected people's natural rights.

Locke Summary

Wrote Two Treatises of Government Believed in Natural Rights that come from nature or God Those rights include: Life, Liberty (freedom), and Property Believed in Limited Government that protected peoples Natural Rights Montesquieu

Baron de Montesquieu was an Enlightenment thinker from France who wrote a book called, The Spirit of the Laws in 1748. In his book, Montesquieu describes what he considers to be the best government. He states that government should divide itself according to its powers, creating a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. Montesquieu explained that under this system each branch would Check and Balance the others, which would help protect the people's liberty. The ideas of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances can be seen in the government of the United States.

Voltaire

Voltaire was a French intellectual who wrote and lectured about freedom of speech. Voltaire is best known for saying, "I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau wrote a book called, The Social Contract, where he stated that people were basically good, and that society, and its unequal distribution of wealth, were the cause of most problems. Rousseau believed that government should be run according to the will of the majority, which he called the General Will. He claimed the General Will would always act in the best interest of the people.

Impact/Results

Enlightenment ideas helped to stimulate people's sense of individualism, and the basic belief in equal rights. This in turn led to the Glorious Revolution is Britain, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Latin American Revolutions. Some of these revolutions resulted in government based upon the ideas of the Enlightenment.

Elsewhere, a few monarchs retained absolute control of their countries while also enacting reform based on Enlightenment ideas. These monarchs are called Enlightened Despots. In Austria, Maria Teresa and her son Joseph II both introduced reforms based on Enlightenment ideas. They reduced the tax load on the peasants, provided free education, and ended censorship in their empire. In Russia, Catherine the Great introduced similar reforms. She enacted laws for religious toleration and free education, and also sought the advice of nobles and peasants in the running of government. However, these reforms seldom outlived the monarchs who had enacted them.

Classwork

Classwork: Answer the AIM in a couple of paragraphs. (No Less than 2)