The Enlightenment: Reason, Rights, and Reform in the 18th Century
The Enlightenment: An Overview
The Enlightenment refers to the intellectual movement of the 18th century, which advocated reason as the primary basis of authority. Developing in France, Britain, and Germany, its sphere of influence included the whole of Europe. The era is marked politically by governmental consolidation, nation creation, greater rights for the common people, and a diminution of the influence of authoritarian institutions such as the nobility’s role and power.
- Ideology that developed anthropocentrism coming from the idea about human being of Renaissance.
- Socially represented by the bourgeoisie, which had the economic power and aspired to get political power, denied by the Ancient Regime.
- Trusted Human Reason and technical progress.
- Considered that people had the right to happiness.
- They paid attention to nature, which was copied in art, was studied in science and was tried to control with technology.
- Doubts were cast on the traditional religious beliefs.
- Ignorance and lack of culture considered origin of all evil. Schools were reclaimed in order to give instruction to everybody.
- Politically, a series of reformations were proposed. They were accepted by some European monarchs, who turned Absolutism into Enlightened Despotism.
Key Figures of the Enlightenment
Voltaire: Supported and defended civil liberties (freedom of religion and right to a fair trial). A supporter of social reform, he frequently made use of his works to criticize Christian Church dogma and the French institutions of his days.
Montesquieu: Famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers.
Rousseau: Contended that man was neither good nor bad.
“Everything for the people, nothing by the people.” – Emperor Joseph II did what he wanted thinking of the other people, but without consulting them.
Main Enlightened Despots
Catherine II (Russia), Frederick II (Prussia), Joseph II & Leopold II (HRE), Maria Theresa (Austria), Charles III (Spain), Joseph I (Portugal).
Charles III of Spain: An Enlightened Monarch
Charles III was a rigorous ruler, the most successful monarch of Spain after Ferdinand and Isabel. He deserves a high rank among the enlightened despots of the eighteenth century. He did not reveal a brilliant mind, but like Ferdinand VI he recognized talent in his servants, and his ministers are among the best Spain ever had.
Domestic Affairs Under Charles III
- In 1776, serious riots shook Madrid and other Castilian cities, though the disturbances were largely a reaction to the momentarily high price of bread. A trial behind closed doors declared the Jesuits guilty of inciting the common people. Charles III determined to suppress them within his dominions in 1767, a step already taken by the kings of Portugal and France.
- He revised the regulations of the Inquisition in 1768 to assure a fair trial to writers and publishers accused of spreading heretical ideas.
- Much antiquated legislation which tended to restrict trade and industry was abolished.
- Roads, canals, and drainage works were carried out.
Foreign Affairs Under Charles III
His foreign policy was marked by the alliance with France (the family compacts):
- In the Seven Years’ War, Spain signed an alliance with France in 1761 against their common enemy, Great Britain, but France gave the Louisiana territory to Spain to compensate for this loss.
- The next conflict, the American War of Independence, was more successful. Spain won back Florida and also Minorca in the Mediterranean, which had been lost in 1713. Despite a strenuous siege, however, it failed to recapture Gibraltar.