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Questions and Answers
What period is recognized as the beginning of the Enlightenment?
What period is recognized as the beginning of the Enlightenment?
Which movement is associated with challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and influenced the Enlightenment?
Which movement is associated with challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and influenced the Enlightenment?
What was the primary focus of the Renaissance that contributed to the Enlightenment?
What was the primary focus of the Renaissance that contributed to the Enlightenment?
What idea did John Locke propose regarding the source of power?
What idea did John Locke propose regarding the source of power?
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What is the term used to describe the belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience?
What is the term used to describe the belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience?
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Which Enlightenment thinker radicalized empiricism by suggesting that objects do not exist independently of our perceptions?
Which Enlightenment thinker radicalized empiricism by suggesting that objects do not exist independently of our perceptions?
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What belief characterized many Enlightenment thinkers regarding the universe?
What belief characterized many Enlightenment thinkers regarding the universe?
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What is the primary belief of Deism?
What is the primary belief of Deism?
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What foundational idea did Montesquieu contribute to political theory?
What foundational idea did Montesquieu contribute to political theory?
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How did John Locke view the social contract?
How did John Locke view the social contract?
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What method did Francis Bacon promote for acquiring scientific knowledge?
What method did Francis Bacon promote for acquiring scientific knowledge?
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What aspect differentiates Hobbes' and Locke's views on human nature and governance?
What aspect differentiates Hobbes' and Locke's views on human nature and governance?
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Which concept is associated with the belief that the universe operates according to discernible laws?
Which concept is associated with the belief that the universe operates according to discernible laws?
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What is a primary difference between capitalism and communism in terms of economic control?
What is a primary difference between capitalism and communism in terms of economic control?
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What role did Francis Bacon predict for science in society?
What role did Francis Bacon predict for science in society?
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Which political idea is linked to the ability of citizens to replace their government?
Which political idea is linked to the ability of citizens to replace their government?
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What was a significant outcome of the Enlightenment movement?
What was a significant outcome of the Enlightenment movement?
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Which concept did John Locke introduce that influenced later political thought?
Which concept did John Locke introduce that influenced later political thought?
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What was the primary intention behind the Age of Discovery?
What was the primary intention behind the Age of Discovery?
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What was the significance of the Columbian Exchange?
What was the significance of the Columbian Exchange?
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How did Adam Smith view the role of government in business?
How did Adam Smith view the role of government in business?
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What did the Magna Carta accomplish in English history?
What did the Magna Carta accomplish in English history?
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What was the encomienda system primarily used for in the Spanish colonies?
What was the encomienda system primarily used for in the Spanish colonies?
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Which of the following correctly describes the economic transformation during the Industrial Revolution?
Which of the following correctly describes the economic transformation during the Industrial Revolution?
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What was the focus of Enlightenment thinkers regarding government?
What was the focus of Enlightenment thinkers regarding government?
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Study Notes
The Enlightenment Era
- Characterized by individualism, humanism, and skepticism as foundational sources of knowledge.
- Initiated in the late 17th century and extended through the early 19th century.
- Influenced by the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Protestant Reformation, which shifted focus from religious to human understanding.
- Spread globally, prompting revolutions against tyranny and social injustices.
Key Philosophers and Ideas
- The Age of Enlightenment emphasized human reason over superstition and obedience to authority.
- John Locke theorized that power originates from the people, contrasting with monarchical divine right.
- Rationalism vs. Empiricism debate: Rationalists believed knowledge stems from reason; empiricists, like Locke and Hume, asserted knowledge comes from sensory experiences.
- Deism emerged, positing a non-interventionist creator who established universal laws.
Knowledge and Social Contracts
- Diderot and d'Alembert compiled knowledge in the Encyclopédie, covering natural sciences and industry.
- Montesquieu argued for governmental separation of powers to prevent corruption, forming the basis for checks and balances.
- Enlightenment ideals encouraged challenges to traditional authority in government and knowledge.
Key Terms Explained
- Rationalism: Knowledge is primarily discovered through human reason.
- Natural Law: Everything in the universe operates based on discernible principles tied to human behavior and government.
- Social Contract: Government arises from a mutual agreement, and citizens have the right to replace failing governments.
Influential Figures
- Francis Bacon: Father of experimental science; promoted empiricism and controlled experimentation.
- Thomas Hobbes: Advocated for absolute monarchy; viewed human life in the state of nature as "nasty, brutish, and short."
- John Locke: Emphasized natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the people's right to revoke governmental power.
Capitalism vs. Communism
- Capitalism emerged from the decline of feudalism, advocating for minimal government interference in economic activities.
- Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations promoted laissez-faire economics, emphasizing the market's invisible hand.
- Communism posits that economic prosperity requires total state control over businesses.
The Age of Discovery
- The Old World refers to Europe, Africa, and Asia; the New World pertains to the Americas.
- The Columbian Exchange facilitated the transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the continents after Columbus's voyages.
Colonial Exploitation and Reform
- Encomienda System: Forced labor from indigenous people by Spanish colonists, aimed to encourage colonization but diminished due to abuse and depopulation.
- Bartolomé de las Casas advocated for indigenous peoples' rights, challenging the abuses of the encomienda system.
Columbian Exchange Details
- Introduced crops like tomatoes and potatoes to the Old World while bringing sugarcane and horses to the New World.
- Resulted in both beneficial exchanges and detrimental impacts, such as the spread of disease and slavery.
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Description
Explore the key concepts and historical significance of the Enlightenment Era. This quiz covers the transition from church-based understanding to individualism and humanism between the late 17th and early 19th centuries, highlighting its causes and impacts on society.
