The Enlightenment: Causes and Precursors

A Summary Sheet
Prem Sai Ramani
4 MAIN CAUSES

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B97yCAL1oNA

1. The work of Newton, Bacon, Locke, and Descartes

Wrote:
The Principles of Natural
Philosophy (1687)

PRECURSORS
England:
Constitutional monarchy,
relative religious
tolerance, and a
minimally regulated
economy

Isaac Newton

France:
Absolute monarchy
where Louis XIV
controlled all aspects of
the state
Religious Wars:
Bloody conflicts between
Protestants and Catholics
after the Reformation.
Ended with the Peace of
Westphalia in 1648.
Colonization:
Exploration led to
global colonisation which
increased market size,
amount of resources, but
also conflict.

1400

Influence:
Rational view of the universe
that was explained through
logical mathematics. People
believed that society should
reflect this.

Francis Bacon

Influence:
Created the scientific method
which relied solely on human
observation. This provided a
methodical way for people to
analyze various subjects.

Wrote:
Two Treatises of Government
(1689)

Wrote:
Discourse on the Method
(1637)

Influence:
Humans are born free, equal,
and have natural rights.
Governments must protect
these rights to stay in power.
Locke rejects monarchies.

Influence:
I think therefore I am.
Human existence comes
from the ability to think
and nothing else. Promotes
individualism and reason.

John Locke

Rene Descartes

Empirical: Something that can be checked

by experimentation and observation
Rational: Logical reasoning based on facts
Reason: Use of the mind to think,
understand, and form judgements
Public Opinion: The collective effect that
views discussed at home and in print had
on political and social life
Secularist: Separation from religious
influence on subjects and the application of
rationalism to religious subjects
Salon: An organised gathering and academic
centre for philosophical discussion, often
held in the homes of wealthy women

7 MAIN IDEAS OF ENLIGHTENMENT

1. Rationalism and Reason
2. Empiricism
3. Optimism & Self Confidence
4. Freedom
5. Constitutionalism
6. Tolerance
7. Secularism

2. Proliferation of Print Media

Ideas reached a wider audience, literacy rates and
the number of secularist texts rose, and Public
Opinion developed
3. Growth of Salons
4. The Stability of England
Example of a progressive and free state

1500
1453: Fall of
Constantinople

Wrote:
The New Method (1620)

DEFINITIONS

1600

1700

1800

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

1517: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses

THE REFORMATION

1543: Copernicus publishes his heliocentric theory

1648: Peace of Westphalia

Leads to the Industrial Revolution

THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

1789: French
Revolution