HIST 1C Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Enlightened Absolutism, Toleration, Scientific Method
Document Summary
Introduction to western civilization: circa 1715 to present. Enlightenment 4- 1766 katherine the great, ruler of russia, wrote a letter to voltaire that gave a wonderful overview of the period known as the enlightenment. Enlightenment: quest for progress through reason and rationality. An individual has a role to play to change the world around him. Number of different thinkers who question morality, government, religion, etc. Thought and production of knowledge is happening outside of religion order. Reformation was first crack in catholic church. Growth of public opinion and cultural : you don"t just have the nobles and crown but you see the emergence of a middle class. Religious tolerance: allow people with different backgrounds. Economic turn: create more optimism for the future. World markets open up we see different goods coming in. People"s expectations of their world start to grow exponentially. More travel and exposure so you become aware of the larger project going on in the entire project.
