UNIT 3

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ANCIEN RÉGIME

THE 18TH CENTURY: THE EARLY MODERN AND MODERN AGES

The intellectual movement called theEnlightementwas developed.

The supporters wanted to use reason, scienceand education to combat ignorance andreform society.

THE ENLIGHTENMENT: A CHANGE IN THINKING

They criticised the traditional structures ofthe Ancien Régime and suggested new ideasto change society.

Themain principles were:

Reason

Learning and teaching

Equality and liberty

In politics, they proposed measures to limitthe powers of absolute monarchs.

ENLIGHTENMENT POLITICS IN EUROPE, AMERICA AND SPAIN

Enlightened despots had the followingcharacteristics: Centralised governments Enlightened thinkers for important positions They tried to make changes peacefully, through

education and new laws.

On 4th July the American colonists proclaimedthe “Declaration of Independence of the USA”,after they had refused to pay more taxes.

From 1701 to 1714 there was the War of theSpanish Succession which brought the rise ofthe Bourbons.

ECONOMIC CHANGES AND SOCIETY

Agriculture improved and more goods wereproduced through the domestic system andby royal manufacturers.

Transatlantic trade also increased.

The reforms of Felipe V and Carlos IIIcontributed to economic growth in Spain.

Society remained based on the estates of therealm, but Enlightenment thinkers wanted tochange this.

ART: ROCOCO AND NEOCLASSICISM

ROCOCO: It reflected the aesthetictastes of the nobility, who wanted homesand decorations that represented thejoys of life.

NEOCLASSICISM: It imitated classicalart and reflected the aesthetic tastes ofEnlightenment thinkers and the middleclass. It reflected ideas of order andmoral correctness.