The 18th century: foundations of the Contemporary Period

The 18th century: foundations of the Contemporary Period

1. Political liberalism and enlightened despotism

   • Political liberalism
     • Thinkers
       • Montesquieu
         • Absoluted monarchies
       • Voltaire
         • Religious fanaticism
       • Rousseau
         • Social inequality
       • John Locke
   • Enlightened despotism
     • Variant of absolutism
     • Idea of Progress
     • Series
       • Political
       • Economic
     • Regalism

2. Economic liberalism

   • Adam Smith
     • Economic liberalism
   • Technological and scientific advances
     • Technology
       • James Watt
       • Cartwright
     • Science
       • D.G. Fahrenheit
       • C. Linnaeus
       • A.Lavoisier
       • A.Volta
       • A.Celsius
       • B.Franklin
   • François Quesnay
     • Opposed to mercantilism
       • Theory of physiocracy

3. Europe and the Enlightenment

   • Europe in the 18th century
     • Monarchs
       • Gained power
       • Absolute monarchies
         • Exceptions
           • England
             • Constitutional monarchies
           • Netherlands
     • Wars
       • Hegemony in Europe
       • Conflicts
         • Colonies
         • Control of trade routes
     • Reafirmation of th world greatest economic power
       • Ports
         • London
         • Hamburg
         • Marseille
       • Rivers
         • Elbe
         • Rhine
         • Danube
     • Increase of population
       • 120 million =>1710
       • 187 million =>1789
     • Social changes
       • Intensified European expansion
         • Cities expanded
         • Urban working class increased
         • Middle class accumulate wealth
   • The Enlightenment
     • Philosophical movement
       • France
       • Characterised by
         • Rationalism
           • Political absolutism and religious ortodoxy
         • Criticism
       • Influenced
         • Descartes
     • Age of enlightenment
       • Darkness of middle Ages
     • Thinkers
       • John Locke
       • Descartes
       • Voltaire
       • Immanuel Kant
       • Adam Smith
     • Principles
       • Tolerance
       • Reason
       • Happiness
       • New society
       • Freedom
       • Progress