Name: _________________________________
Period: _________
Date: __________
AIM: How did the Age of Enlightenment develop?
Age of Enlightenment: a period of time in Europe during the 1600 and 1700s that
transformed the way people looked at the world. The beliefs created during this time were
solely based on logic and reason, rather than religion and tradition.
Step 1: The Scientific Revolution
The emergence of the Renaissance was a period of rebirth for art, literature, and
architecture in Europe during the 1400s. This sparked people across Europe to begin
exploring other aspects of life, including the sciences.
The Renaissance directly led to the Scientific Revolution (period in the 1500 and
1600s that transformed the sciences). This revolution was led by famous scientists,
such as Copernicus, Galileo and Isaac Newton.
Copernicus is most known for his belief in Heliocentric Theory, which
stated that the Earth orbits around the Sun. This was
in direct contradiction to the Catholic Church, which
at the time believed the Earth to be the center of the
universe.
Galileo would further this cause with his use of the
telescope, and was even jailed for a time for this
belief. Isaac Newton is known for his Laws of Motion and his work with
gravity.
Step 2: Natural Law
Europeans began to explore the sciences more and
made such advances as the smallpox vaccine, developed
by Edward Jenner.
This would lead some to apply the laws of science to
society and politics. A new model for thinking began to
develop that became known as Natural Law. Natural
Law is what governs everything in nature, and many
thought the same was true in society.
New ideas on government and law would be created
from this belief.
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Step 3: Logic and Reason
As European philosophers began to discuss and debate human behavior, it became clear
that nature was governed by two forces: logic and reason.
Natural Law led philosophers to oppose some of the traditional and
concrete beliefs of the Catholic Church. This evolved into questioning
the order of politics. Kings and Queens would soon come under fire as
well as Enlightenment thinkers questioned the order of things. Logic
and Reason were applied to government, and the concept of “Rights”
were created.
The whole idea was that people were getting better educated; therefore,
“enlightened.” A German Philosopher, Immanuel Kant, wrote a work called
The Critique of Pure Reason and coined the phrase “The Enlightenment.”
“‘Have the courage to use your own understanding,’ is therefore the
motto of the enlightenment.” - KANT
Other effects/impacts of the Enlightenment:
- New books and ideas began to spread across Europe.
- The “middle class” of Europe (or those who were educated) slowly began to question
why certain rules were made and who was in power. This will become the start of many
revolutions that occur across the world.
- The end result was the birth of "social science." (Psychology, History, Sociology, etc. are
members of the Social Sciences).
- Progress. Enlightenment thinkers believed that it was possible to improve humans and
human society. This was in marked contrast to Medieval thinking in which human beings
were considered corrupt, sinful, and of little value. The influence of humanism is readily
apparent.
- The Enlightenment was in many respects the logical conclusion of the Renaissance. It
was by its very nature secular (non-religious). Only those explanations which were
"reasonable" and worldly were considered valid.
- Enlightenment ideas had little effect on the poor and common folk; in fact they resented
its attack on their customs and traditions, many of which were closely tied to religious
observances. They were too involved with their daily struggle to survive to concern
themselves with philosophical word games.
Name: _________________________________
Period: _________
Date: __________
(1) Why was this time period called, “The Age of Enlightenment?”
(2) Who were some famous scientists during the Scientific Revolution?
(3) How did the Enlightenment use science in its development?
(4) What kind of progress do you think the Enlightenment thinkers are going to try
and make in society?
(5) Why are Logic and Reason a “threat” to the old monarchies of Europe?
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Name: ____________________ Period: _________
Question: What were the 3 Steps that led to the
development of the Age of Enlightenment?
Step One -
Step Two -
Step Three -