Chapter 19: Culture and Society in Eighteenth-Century Europe

The Enlightenment (1720-1790) was a period of time in which scholars believed in the use of reason and scientific methods

• Use of reason sparked a revolution throughout the world

• This was a new way to view politics, religion, and society

• Philosophers based their ideas on discoveries from Scientific Revolution

Principles of Enlightened Thought

• Reason

• Nature

• Happiness

• Progress

• Liberty

France, Scotland, Austria, German states, Prussia participated in the Enlightenment

Treaties of Toleration (1763)

• Tried to clear memory of Jean Cala who was accused of murdering his son in order to stop conversion to Catholicism

Traditional Roman values were destroyed due to decadence

The British system consisted of a monarchy with a strong independent aristocracy that placed a check on the monarchy

Cesare Beccaria believed that laws should be instituted to promote happiness within society

The Enlightenment was developed in Western Europe

• Had a greater impact on governments in Eastern Europe

• Presented a brand new educational model

  • Key to creating a better society was seen as social reform through education

  • Russian and Austrian states increased primary education for the nobility

Enlightenment philosophers believed that it was possible to better society

The Progress of the Human Mind (1795) combined the ideas of educational and social reform that advanced the idea that the human mind was in a state of educational evolution

Religious Toleration

• Was impactful on both Eastern Europe and Western Europe

• Increased the toleration of dissenting religious positions

Individuals believed that the purpose of life was to increase their happiness through the advancement of their self-interests