Unit 7 Overview

  • Key Themes: Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, French Revolution.

Scientific Revolution

  • Movement emphasizing logic, reason, and scientific method to understand the natural world.
  • Major figures:   - Andreas Vesalius: Human anatomy.   - Francis Bacon: Scientific method.   - William Harvey: Blood circulation.   - Rene Descartes: Rational thought.   - Robert Boyle: Chemical composition.   - Isaac Newton: Gravity and motion.

Conceptual Changes in the Universe

  • Ancient View: Earth-centered universe (Ptolemy).
  • Modern View: Heliocentrism (Copernicus, Galileo Galilei).

Enlightenment Philosophies

  • New ideas introduced:   - Rene Descartes: Rationalism.   - John Locke: Natural Rights and just governance.   - Montesquieu: Separation of powers.   - Voltaire: Civil liberties.   - Adam Smith: Free Market Capitalism.

The Impact of the Protestant Reformation

  • Religious conflicts from diverse Christianity lead to:   - Social tensions (Witch Hunts).   - Political conflicts (Civil Wars, Spanish Inquisition).

Forms of Government

  • Constitutional States: Power shared with institutions (Examples: England, Netherlands).
  • Absolute Monarchies: Concentrated royal power (Examples: France, Spain, Austria, Prussia, Russia).

The Ancien Régime in France

  • Three Estates:   - First Estate: Clergy (0.5% population, 10% land).   - Second Estate: Nobility (1.5% population, 25% land).   - Third Estate: Commoners (98% population, 65% land).
  • Key injustices included taxation and land ownership disparities.

French Revolution Events

  • Estates General: Called by Louis XVI; resulted in formation of the National Assembly by the Third Estate.
  • Bastille Storming: Symbol of royal power; initiated revolution.
  • Goals: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
  • The Convention: New legislative body formed to combat foreign invasion; led to the Reign of Terror under Robespierre.

Napoleon's Rise and Impact

  • Born in Corsica; became a general by 24. Played a key role in the Revolution.
  • Overthrew Directory, formed the Consulate; crowned Emperor in 1804.
  • Concordat with the Church: Religious freedom and state control over clergy.
  • Controlled much of Europe at his peak; fell due to military failures (Invasion of Russia, Continental System).

Legacy of Napoleon

  • Napoleonic Code: Legal reform promoting Enlightenment ideas but excluding freedoms like speech and government representation.
  • Impact on Latin American independence and the U.S. from the Louisiana Purchase.
  • Recognition of the idea of equality during the Haitian Revolution, leading to the abolition of slavery in various stages.