Europe & Europe & The The

EnlightenmentEnlightenment

1700-17891700-1789

European Society in the European Society in the 1818thth century century

population growth (less wars, less epidemics, population growth (less wars, less epidemics, better hygiene)better hygiene)

European population starts growing rapidly: 100 European population starts growing rapidly: 100 mil (1700), 190 mil (1800) and 260 mil (1850) mil (1700), 190 mil (1800) and 260 mil (1850)

corn & potatoes stabilized food supplycorn & potatoes stabilized food supply more people, more movement to cities more people, more movement to cities new techniques used in farming (crop rotation, new techniques used in farming (crop rotation,

fertilizers, etc… led to great changes throughout fertilizers, etc… led to great changes throughout Europe).Europe).

Enclosure: new system of land distribution; landowners reclaiming common land, renting out in strips. Redistribution led to rioting in some areas, economic & demographic changes.

The beginning of the Industrial Revolution

1750s: gradual series of changes in agriculture, trade, industry

Inventions (i.e. the flying shuttle for weaving) led to much faster productivity changes in labour needs increased urbanization increased consumerism.

Dr. François Quesnay (Laissez-faire- no interference) need for luxury items and consumerism for good of economy.

By the time when Louis XIV died (1715), the nobility’s hold on power was weakening everywhere in Europe.

Just like Versailles, the European royal courts was the place for power and rewards. As long as you had the favour of the king (favourite), you could influence. But if you lost that favour, you could be exiled.

Monarchs were generally all powerful (with few exceptions) and very human. They could be children with regents (Louis XIV, Louis XV) or even insane: (George III of England, Queen Maria I of Portugal)

Government

Europe after Louis XIV 6 dynasties that fought for power and

territory: Bourbons of Spain (1700-1931, 1975-present) Bourbons of France (*1589-1792, 1815-1848) Hanoverians of Britain (*1714-1901) Habsburgs of Austria (*1452-1918) Romanovs of Russia (1613-1917) Hohenzollerns of Prussia/ Germany (*1701-1918)

They fought each other and the Ottoman Empire.

Europe after Louis XIV (cont’d)

The other smaller European states (Portugal, Savoy, Naples, the Netherlands, etc.) had a balancing act to do. They had to ally themselves with the stronger countries.

Waging war was economically important but also very expensive.

Military decisions were made by monarchs & aristocrats with little care for popular opinion.

The Enlightenment

most people were concerned with themselves & family.

yet some people started to concern themselves with the welfare of the people/society as a whole: these people came to be known as intellectuals. Thinkers of the Enlightenment in France were called philosophes (philosophers).

freedom of thought, free market, rationalism, optimism, progress.

Human rights: public education, freedom of thought, abolition of slavery, etc… increased literacy & books widespread access to these new ideas.

criticized unquestioned obedience to authority

Deism: philosophical trend – God was the creator but did not participate in human affairs.

The Encyclopedia

Encyclopédie Published in France

between 1751-1756 72,000 articles Government, the

social system, religion, biology, chemistry, medicine, engineering etc.

Scorning Christianity condemned by the Pope

Enlightenment Thinkers John Locke (1632-

1704)-defended need for elected government-leave “state of nature” people will enjoy life more in a well ordered society where government looked after its people.-Locke heavily influenced American Revolution: “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Enlightenment Thinkers Voltaire (1694-

1778)- defended tolerance & attacked religious piety.- early in life confrontational toward establishment. Later championed victims of injustice.- 1753- historical revolution… need evidence as proof. Big Impact

Enlightenment Thinkers Adam Smith (1723-

1790)- Most famous economist of the time.- Need for free trade, market should be regulated by competition and supply/demand. Against Mercantilism.- The Wealth of Nations. Described a capitalist system. Was an optimist. But industrialists later used theories to legitimize exploitation of the working classes conflict.

Enlightenment Thinkers Jean-Jacques

Rousseau (1712-1778)- moral reform of society. Did not accept idea that humanity was improving. The Social Contract: “Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains”. Put forward concepts of “Common Good” & “General Will”.

Enlightened Despotism

The ideas of enlightenment influenced a new breed of monarchs who were absolute but ruled in the interests of the welfare of the people and the power of the state.

They were : Frederick II of Prussia (1740-1786) Maria Theresa of Austria (1740-1780) Joseph II of Austria (1765-1790) Catherine II of Russia (1762-1796)

Frederick the Great King of Prussia (1740-

1786) Granted religious

tolerance and the freedom of the press

New law code and educational reforms

Prussia became one of the most powerful countries in Europe.

“to maintain the peace, […] to have a well-conducted government whose actions are well-reasoned and whose purpose is to strengthen the state and further its power”

Maria Theresa Her accession started

the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748).

Became a strong supporter of inoculation against smallpox

Made serfs’ lives easier by abolishing the land rent

No more capital punishment

Mandatory education for children

Joseph II Much more liberal than

his mother. After her death, he implemented 6,000 edicts in all, plus 11,000 new laws designed to regulate and reorder every aspect of the empire.

Emancipated the serfs, secularized church lands

Compulsory use of German in schools (not Latin)

The spirit of his rule was benevolent and paternal. He intended to make his people happy, but strictly in accordance with his own criteria.

Catherine II Considered one of Europe’s

most successful monarchs, brought Russia to major power status in the world.

She added 518 000 km² to Russia

First college of medicine to train doctors and surgeons and decreed that every province needed to have a doctor

Appointed a woman, Princess Dashova, as the Director of the Academy of Science.

Free public education Built palaces, collected art

and corresponded with Voltaire.

Yet, she did not free the largest part of her population: the serfs.