The Enlightenment in 18th-Century Europe: Key Figures, Ideas, and Impact
1. The Rise of Encyclopedias and Newspapers
An important publication, the first French encyclopedia, was published in 1715. Unlike modern encyclopedias, content was not organized alphabetically in the 18th-century Encyclopédie.
The first Spanish newspaper was published in 1758.
2. Enlightenment Thinkers and the Spread of Ideas
Enlightenment thinkers discussed their ideas in various settings, including family circles, salons, and through written works. Reading societies emerged, focusing on different types of non-religious texts.
To influence government policies, some kings and queens supported the work of professional academies.
3. Influential Women of the Enlightenment
Marie-Thérèse Rodet
- Hosted meetings with influential Enlightenment thinkers in her Paris salons.
Émilie du Châtelet
- A mathematician who played a key role in spreading the ideas of Newton through her translation work.
- This physicist, mathematician, and writer collaborated with Voltaire.
Maria Gaetana Agnesi
- Taught at university and wrote influential books on calculus.
- This Enlightenment woman’s publications on mathematics were used for many years.
Mary Wollstonecraft
- A fiction writer who also penned an important work about female rights.
4. Central Beliefs of the Enlightenment
The 18th-century movement known as the Enlightenment centered around these key beliefs:
- Reason: The belief in human rationality as a means to illuminate societal errors and overcome biased notions and religious dogmas.
- Progress: The idea that the development of knowledge allowed civilizations to dominate nature, leading to the creation of wealth and well-being.
- Happiness: The concept of happiness as both an individual right and a societal aspiration that rulers were obligated to pursue.
5. True or False Statements about the Enlightenment
a. The Enlightenment was mostly a reformist movement. True
b. The Enlightenment led to scientific and technical stagnation. False. The Enlightenment fostered scientific and technological advancements.
c. The development of the Enlightenment caused the Church and absolutism to increase their influence. False. The Enlightenment challenged the authority of the Church and absolutist rule.
6. Key Enlightenment Thinkers and Their Ideas
(a) Rousseau proposed a model of society where (b) sovereignty was in the hands of the people, not the king. He supported (c) democracy, advocating for a society guided by the general will.
(d) Montesquieu criticized (e) absolute monarchies and proposed a moderate monarchy with a separation of executive, legislative, and (f) judicial powers.
(g) Voltaire criticized religious (h) fanaticism and was an advocate of freedom of (i) religion. While he favored enlightened (j) despotism, he also fought for civil rights and judicial reform.
7. The Enlightenment in Spain
Limitations
The Enlightenment faced several limitations in Spain:
- Censorship: The Church continued to impose censorship.
- Limited Dissemination of Knowledge: Advances made during the scientific revolution were not widely known, remaining confined to certain intellectual circles.
8. Agricultural Innovations in 18th-Century Britain
Fallow Method
The fallow method involved leaving a portion of land uncultivated to allow the soil to regenerate.
Continuous Crop Rotation
was based on introducing crops that replenished the soil even though the field was not left fallow and that could be used as food for livestock.
17.- Give three examples of the mechanisation of agricultural work in Britain in the 18th century. Iron ploughs, seed drills and new harvesting techniques
23.- Read about the War of Succession and choose the correct option.
1. When Carlos II of Habsburg died without children, there were two pretenders to the throne: ….. and ….. .
b. Carlos of Habsburg / Prince Felipe of Bourbon
2. Felipe V was sworn in as king of the monarchy’s different kingdoms between …..
c. 1701 and 1702
3. Felipe V had the biggest number of supporters in ….. .
a. Castilla
24.- Complete the events related to the War of Succession with the correct dates.
1. The Hague Alliance declared war on France and on Felipe V, causing an international war to break out in 1701 .
2. A civil war broke out in the Spanish kingdoms between supporters of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons in 1705 .
3. The European war ended with the signing of the Peace of Utrecht in 1713.
4. The civil war between the Spanish kingdoms lasted until 1715.
5. The Nueva Planta decrees were used to abolish the courts, fueros, diputaciones
generales, customs and fiscal systems of the kingdoms of the Crown of Aragón in 1707, 1711 and 1715.
25.- What was the old Habsburg model of government (with councils and validos acting as prime ministers) replaced with? Cabinets.
28.- Which of the Bourbon kings is the main example of enlightened despotism in Spain? Carlos III
29.- Explain what the following terms mean.
1. manos muertas were lands owned by the Church and religious orders that could not be sold.
2. mayorazgos were lands owned by noble families that would be inherited entirely by the first-born son.
3. common lands were pastures and forest that the local people exploited for free as the old town councils owning these lands that could not be sold. 4. personal assets included real estate, agricultural land and pastures that were rented to local people in exchange for rent. The money was used to pay for the expenses of the town council: schools, salaries, public works like fountains and roads, etc.