AP Euro Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution Key Figures & Ideas

What type of government did Thomas Hobbes advocate?

Strong, centralized absolute monarchy.

What is Hobbes' view of human nature?

He believed humans are selfish and violent without government.

What does Hobbes mean by 'state of nature'?

A condition of constant war where life is 'nasty, brutish, and short.'

What is the social contract according to Hobbes?

People submit to an absolute ruler to maintain order.

What philosophical method did René Descartes advocate?

Deductive reasoning, starting with doubt.

What is Descartes' famous statement?

'I think, therefore I am.'

What concept did John Locke introduce regarding human rights?

Natural rights: life, liberty, and property.

What right did Locke believe people have against unjust governments?

The right to rebel.

What does Montesquieu's separation of powers entail?

Dividing government into executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

What did Montesquieu argue in 'The Spirit of the Laws'?

Political systems reflect geography and culture.

What is Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view on human nature?

Humans are born good but corrupted by society.

What is Rousseau's concept of popular sovereignty?

Government should be guided by the general will.

What was Denis Diderot's major contribution to the Enlightenment?

Editor of the 'Encyclopédie', compiling all human knowledge.

What economic system did Adam Smith advocate?

Free-market capitalism with limited government intervention.

What is the 'invisible hand' according to Adam Smith?

The pursuit of self-interest benefits society.

What did Immanuel Kant emphasize as the essence of the Enlightenment?

The use of human reason.

What did Mary Wollstonecraft advocate for?

Women's rights, especially in education.

What is Nicolaus Copernicus known for?

Developing the heliocentric theory of a sun-centered universe.

What significant contribution did Johannes Kepler make?

Described planetary motion with mathematical laws.

What did Galileo Galilei improve that supported heliocentrism?

The telescope, which allowed him to observe moons of Jupiter.

What laws did Isaac Newton formulate?

Laws of motion and universal gravitation.

What method did Francis Bacon advocate?

Inductive reasoning and empiricism.

What reforms did Frederick the Great of Prussia implement?

Centralized power, religious toleration, legal reforms, and promoted education.

What did Frederick the Great believe about the role of a ruler?

A ruler should be the 'first servant of the state.'

What was the primary focus of knowledge before the Scientific Revolution?

Knowledge was based on the Church, Aristotle, and ancient authority.

What worldview characterized the medieval period?

Geocentrism, humors, alchemy, and astrology.

What did the Renaissance introduce that encouraged questioning of traditional beliefs?

Humanism, the printing press, and classical texts.

What was a significant outcome of the Age of Exploration?

New data that challenged old models of knowledge.

What were the three modes of thought that influenced the Enlightenment?

Humanism, Individualism, and Intellectualism.

Define Humanism.

A focus on human potential and the study of nature and classical texts.

What does Individualism emphasize?

Trusting one's own reasoning rather than relying on tradition or authority.

What is Intellectualism?

Valuing education, debate, and rational inquiry.

What major idea did Enlightenment thinkers promote regarding governance?

Natural rights, including life, liberty, and property.

Who wrote 'Two Treatises of Government' and what was its main idea?

John Locke; it emphasized natural rights and consent of the governed.

What is Voltaire known for?

Advocating for free speech and religious tolerance in 'Candide' and 'Philosophical Letters.'

What concept did Rousseau introduce in 'The Social Contract'?

The idea of the general will, prioritizing community over the individual.

What did Montesquieu advocate in 'The Spirit of the Laws'?

The separation of powers in government.

What was Kant's famous phrase regarding Enlightenment?

'Dare to know'; encouraging the use of reason and independent thought.

What was the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus?

The model that places the sun at the center of the universe.

What significant discoveries did Galileo make?

He observed Jupiter's moons and the phases of Venus.

What did Kepler contribute to the Scientific Revolution?

The laws of planetary motion, including elliptical orbits.

What are the key ideas of the Scientific Revolution?

Empiricism, rationalism, the scientific method, and natural laws.

How did the public sphere contribute to the spread of Enlightenment ideas?

Through coffeehouses, salons, and print media like pamphlets and newspapers.

What was the significance of Vesalius in the field of medicine?

He advanced human anatomy through dissection in 'Fabrica.'

What did Harvey discover about the circulatory system?

He described the circulation of blood.

What economic theory did Adam Smith promote in 'Wealth of Nations'?

Laissez-faire economics and the concept of the invisible hand.

What was the role of women in the Enlightenment regarding rights?

Thinkers like Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges advocated for women's rights.

What is Deism?

The belief in a rational God who created the universe but does not intervene in human affairs.

What were the main characteristics of 18th-century society?

Population growth, agricultural revolution, urbanization, and medical advances.

What artistic movements emerged during the Enlightenment?

Rococo and Neoclassical art, along with the rise of the novel in literature.

What reforms did Joseph II of Austria implement?

He abolished serfdom, promoted religious toleration, and reformed the legal system and education.

What was Catherine the Great's approach to reforms after Pugachev's Rebellion?

She abandoned many reforms and became more autocratic.