The Enlightenment
Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power.
—René Descartes (1596 -1650)
Learning Objectives
- A: Explain the intellectual and ideological context in which revolutions swept the Atlantic world from 1750 to 1900.
- B: Explain how the Enlightenment affected societies over time.
A s empires expanded and trade routes led to more interactions, intellectuals
in the 17th and 18th centuries such as Descartes began to emphasize reason over tradition and individualism over community values. These shifts were called the Enlightenment. The ideals of this movement, such as individualism, freedom, and self-determination, challenged the roles of monarchs and church leaders and planted the seeds of revolution in the United States, France, and around the world.
Think As a Historian: THINK AS A HISTORIAN: DESCRIBE AN ARGUMENT
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Reflect
REFLECT ON THE TOPIC ESSENTIAL QUESTION
1. In one to three paragraphs, explain how the Enlightenment shaped the ideological and intellectual thinking that affected reform and revolution in the period after 1750.
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