Section 3 THE ENLIGHTENMENT SPREADS The Enlightenment Spreads

Section 3 THE ENLIGHTENMENT SPREADS

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

The Enlightenment Spreads Diderot's Encyclopedia Diderot was a leading philosophe 1751 he began to publish a set of books that contained essays and articles by leading Enlightenment thinkers Called it the Encyclopedia Angered 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 change Simple, 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 Spreads Many philosophes thought the best form of government was a monarchy They 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 stronger 2. 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 torture Joseph 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