THE ENLIGHTENMENT SPREADS

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The Enlightenment Spreads

Spread across Europe through books, magazines and word of mouth

Influenced everything from artistic world to royal courts across continent

1700’s Paris was cultural and intellectual capital of Europe, center of Enlightenment ideas

The Enlightenment Spreads

Diderot's EncyclopediaDiderot was a leading philosophe1751 he began to publish a set of

books that contained essays and articles by leading Enlightenment thinkers

Called it the EncyclopediaAngered the French government and

the Catholic Church, said it undermined authority and encouraged a spirit of revolt

Book helped spread the ideas of the Enlightenment to people all over Europe

The Enlightenment Spreads

European art in 1600’s and early 1700’s was dominated by a style known a baroque (had grand, ornate, design)

Enlightenment influenced changeSimple, elegant style influence by

classical Greece and Rome called neo-classical developed by late 1700’s

Simple structure and decoration reflected order and reason

Music styles changed lighter, elegant style of music developed known as classical music

Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were classical composers

The Enlightenment SpreadsMany philosophes thought the best form of

government was a monarchyThey wanted rulers to respect individuals rights Some monarchs made reforms that reflected the

Enlightenment (known as enlightened despots)

They did not want to give up power, but made changes for two reasons:1. To make their country stronger2. An to make their own rule more effective

Best examples of enlightened despots were Fredrick the Great of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria and Catherine the Great of Russia

The Enlightenment Spreads

Fredrick the Great of Prussia◦ Invited intellectuals to Prussia◦ Allowed free press, relig. toleration,

reduced use of tortureJoseph II of Austria

◦ Most radical reformer◦ Traveled among peasants to learn

problems◦ Supported religious equality, freedom of

the press◦ Diminished power of Catholic Church◦ Promoted education◦ Abolished serfdom, ◦ Serfs had to be paid for labor◦ All reforms were cancelled after his death

The Enlightenment Spreads

Catherine the Great of Russia◦ Based her reforms on the ideas of

Montesquieu and Beccaria◦ Believed in enlightenment ideas of

equality, liberty (not for all, only middle and upper classes)

◦ Made limited reforms, but did little to improve lives of peasants

◦ Gave nobles absolute power over the serfs

◦ She did expand Russian power and size through wars with the Ottomans and Poles

◦ Helped make Russia an international power