INTRODUCTION TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Enlightenment: a change in outlook

among many educated Europeans that
began during the 1600s.

This was a time when reason was a key

part of the progress. They used
observations and logic to understand the
world instead of errors and superstitions
of the past.

There was increases in literacy which

challenged the authority of institutions,
especially the Catholic Church.
 THE EARLY ENLIGHTENMENT: 1685-
1730
Important people: SIR ISAAC NEWTON JOHN LOCKE
Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, Born in 1634, was an English Born in 1632, the idea he had
Mathematician, physicist, was that both government and
Renee Descartes, Galileo, astronomer, theologian, and
Kepler, Leibniz, Sir Isaac people’s right had a major
author who is widely recognized impact on the enlightenment.
Newton, etc. as one of the most influential In his publication he argued that
Important publications: scientists of all time and as a key human nature human nature
figure in the scientific revolution. was mutable and knowledge
“Principia Mathematica” (1686)
His calculus and optical theories was gained through
by Newton, provided the powerful accumulated experience rather
“Essay Concerning Human Enlightenment , metaphors for than by accessing some sort of
Understanding” (1689) by John precisely measured change and outside truth.
Locke. illumination.

THOMAS HOBBES
Born in England in 1588. He wrote about many subjects such as politics and government. His
idea of society were mostly inspired by the power struggle between The King and the
Parliament in England going on in 1600’s. He published a book called “Leviathan” in 1651 in
which he wrote about how people were driven by never ending desire of the power.
THE HIGH ENLIGHTENMENT:1730-
1780
• Important people: Voltaire, Rousseau,
Montesquieu, Buffon, Diderot, etc.
• Important publications: “Philosophical
dictionary: a chaos of clear ideas” and “Letters
of the English” by Voltaire, “Encyclopedie” by
Diderot.
• There were many revolutionaries who brought
nations together like Frederik the Great
(unified Prussia), Thomas Paine and Thomas
Jefferson (started “ Declaration of
Independence” 1776 which framed the
American Revolution).
• Coffeehouses, newspapers, and literary slogans
emerged as new venues for ideas to circulate.
 THE LATE ENLIGHTENMENT AND
BEYOND:1780-1815
The era of revolutions and development
1. French Revolution(1789) INVENTIONS:
2. Industrial Revolution(1750-1850) ‘Steam Engine’ by Thomas Newcomen in 1705,
3. Romanticism(18 century) ‘Flying Shuttle’ in 1733 by John Kay, ‘Spinning
Jenny’ in 1764 by James Hargreaves, ‘The Wealth
4. Liberalism(19 century)
of Nations’ in 1776 by Adam Smith, ‘Power Loom’
5. Classicism(19 century) by Edmund Cartwright in 1785, ‘Watt’s Steam
6. Modernism(20 century) Engine’ by James Watt in 1763, puddling
discovered by Henry Cort in 1780, ‘Steam Boat’
invented by Robert Fulton in early 19th century,
locomotive was discovered in same era by George
Stephenson, Cyrus McCormick invented several
machines used to mechanize farming; got
patented in 1834, discovery of electricity by
Thomas A. Edison in 1882, “the electric telegraph’
introduced by Samuel Morse in 1844, Alexander
Graham Bell patented first telephone in 1876,
Suez canal was made in late 19th century.
 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN
SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
 Started in 1837 by a man called LOUIS-AUGUSTE  Changes in industry were so great that INDIA
BLANQI
the period after 1850 was called as  It started in the beginning of 19th
 Society changed from rural where most lived and second industrial revolution. century.
worked on the land to urban where money was  Transport industry flourished the
made from made from manufacturing and  The simple machines from 18th and 19th
commerce. century became more developed and most due to modes of transport
advanced. such as ships and railways.
 There were a shift from all the older and traditional
ways to machines and usage of other kinds of  Steel, petroleum and chemical industry  Fashion industry changed in a fast
power in place of muscle power, the adoption of used latest scientific knowledge to speed because of overflow of goods
factory system and industries. flourish. and newer types of commodities
 Commerce expanded by the beginning of 17th  Electricity was applied to driving all were manufactured.
century and people started using Gold and Silver for kinds of machinery rather than coal.  Industrialization resulted in
transactions; and by the end of 17th century banks  Multinational company’s concept urbanization.
and credit system emerged.  Many hygiene related problems
emerged.
 Cottage industry shifted to factories, coal and iron  Businesses and factories were of large also emerged and people started
used steam engines, canals and railways were built leaving the joint family system.
for trade and transportation. scale.
 Wealthy class; the richer section of
 New England soon developed an important textile the society basically ruled and
industry. Techniques of factory were refined in
American workshops. poverty increased with time.