Western Civ Ages of Revolutions

What ideas and beliefs were challenged during the Scientific Revolution?

Challenged traditional views of the universe and nature, particularly the geocentric model, and promoted empiricism and rational thought over religious dogma and superstition.

What new ideas and beliefs emerged to replace the old during the Scientific Revolution?

The heliocentric model, advancements in mathematics and physics, and the emphasis on experimentation and observation, leading to a more systematic approach to scientific inquiry.

What impact did the advancements of the Scientific Revolution have on society?

They promoted critical thinking, questioned authority, and laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment, influencing political, social, and cultural changes.

Copernicus

A mathematician and astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the universe, challenging the geocentric view and initiating the Scientific Revolution.

Kepler

A key figure in the Scientific Revolution, formulated the laws of planetary motion, demonstrating that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun.

Galileo

An Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician who made significant contributions to the Scientific Revolution, including improvements to the telescope and championing the heliocentric model.

Newton

An English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who is widely recognized for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation, laying the groundwork for classical mechanics.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? John Locke

A philosophical thinker during the Enlightenment, known for his theories on the social contract, government by consent, and the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, which influenced modern democratic thought.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Thomas Hobbes

An influential political philosopher known for his work "Leviathan," where he argued for a strong central authority to avoid the chaos of a state of nature, emphasizing the need for social contract and absolute sovereignty.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Voltaire

A prominent Enlightenment writer and philosopher, is known for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of speech and religion, as well as his criticism of established authority and dogma, particularly in his work "Candide".

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Rousseau

A key figure of the Enlightenment, is known for his work "The Social Contract," which posits that legitimate political authority relies on the general will of the people. He emphasized the importance of individual freedom and the idea that humans are inherently good but corrupted by society.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Denis Diderot

A French philosopher and prominent figure of the Enlightenment, known for co-founding and editing the "Encyclopédie," which aimed to compile and disseminate knowledge while promoting reason, science, and secularism.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Rene Descartes

A French philosopher and mathematician, is best known for his statement "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), which emphasizes the importance of doubt and reason as a pathway to knowledge. He laid the groundwork for modern philosophy and analytical geometry, advocating for a systematic approach to scientific inquiry.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Adam Smith

A Scottish economist and philosopher, is best known for his book "The Wealth of Nations," which advocates for free markets and the principles of capitalism. He introduced the concept of the "invisible hand" to describe how self-interest drives economic prosperity.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Isaac Newton

An English mathematician and physicist, is renowned for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation. His work in mathematics, particularly calculus, and his book "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" laid the foundation for classical mechanics and significantly advanced the scientific revolution.

What were the ideas/achievements of the following? Mary Wollstonecraft

An English writer and advocate for women's rights, is best known for her book "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," which argues for women's education and equality. She challenged the societal norms of her time, emphasizing the importance of reason and virtue for both genders.

What were salons?

Social gatherings in 17th and 18th century Europe where intellectuals, artists, and philosophers met to discuss ideas, literature, and philosophy. These played a key role in the spread of Enlightenment thinking and fostered cultural exchange.

What were the important ideas of the Enlightenment? What were the effects of the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. It promoted ideas such as liberty, democracy, and justice, significantly influencing political revolutions and modern democratic thought.

What are the stages of a revolution?

Typically include the pre-revolutionary period, which involves social and political unrest; the revolution itself, where existing structures are challenged; and the post-revolutionary phase, which addresses the aftermath and establishment of new systems.

How was the French Revolution inspired by the Enlightenment?

Was inspired by Enlightenment principles such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, leading to the challenge of monarchy and the demand for democracy. Thinkers like Rousseau and Voltaire encouraged the populace to question traditional authority and seek governmental reform.

What were the long-term causes of the French Revolution? Immediate causes? (The Old/Ancien Régime, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Three Estates, Estates General)

Social inequality, economic hardship, and influence of Enlightenment ideas. Immediate causes were the financial crisis under Louis XVI, the discontent of the Third Estate, and the calling of the Estates General.

How did the revolutionaries attempt to destroy the power of the Old Regime? (National Assembly, Tennis Court Oath, Declaration of the Rights of Man, The Bastille, Women’s March on Versailles)

Through key actions like forming the National Assembly, taking the Tennis Court Oath to establish a constitution, issuing the Declaration of the Rights of Man to assert individual freedoms, storming the Bastille as a symbol of oppression, and mobilizing large public demonstrations like the Women’s March on Versailles to demand change.

How did the French Revolution betray its original goal? (Radicals, Jacobins, Robespierre, Reign of Terror, Guillotine, The Committee of Public Safety)

By becoming increasingly violent and authoritarian under radical leadership, particularly the Jacobins and Robespierre, who instituted the Reign of Terror, executing perceived enemies of the revolution using the guillotine and prioritizing state control over individual rights.

Why is the French Revolution significant to Western history?

It fundamentally altered the course of Western history by advancing ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It led to the rise of secularism, the decline of monarchies, and inspired subsequent nationalist and revolutionary movements worldwide.

How and why did Napoleon come to power?

After the instability of the Directory, a government marked by corruption and ineffectiveness. Through a coup d'état in 1799, he established himself as First Consul, promising stability, order, and reforms to restore France after years of revolution.

What led to Napoleon’s downfall?

His failed invasion of Russia in 1812, which decimated his army, along with the economic strain of the Continental System that alienated European nations. His return to power during the Hundred Days ended with his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

What were Napoleon’s positive contributions to Western Civ.?

The Napoleonic Codes unified the legal systems of France, promoting principles such as equality before the law, the protection of property rights, and secularism in governance. These codes influenced legal reforms in numerous countries, laying the groundwork for modern legal systems.

How did Europe attempt to restore the balance of power after Napoleon’s conquests?

European leaders convened at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815 to negotiate boundaries, restore monarchies, and establish a framework for international diplomacy, aiming to prevent future conflicts and maintain stability.