5.6 Points To Remember

Growth and Features of the Revolution

• Geographical discoveries from the 14th to 17th centuries led to a broadening of the outlook.
• Growth in trade brought about leisure to pursue artistic and literary interests among the middle class.
• Copernican theories revolutionized human perception of the universe.
• Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries brought in tolerance and secularism.
• Natural Science as well as a natural religion gained prominence.
• Subjects like economics, religion, politics and education were viewed with a critical perspective.
• The empirical view of science was emphasized and acquired.
• Important scientists were Newton, Liebnitz and Volta.
• William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood.
• Lavoisier, Priestley and Cavendish laid the foundation for modern Chemistry.
• Large scale printing helped in the rapid spread of ideas.

The Rationalist Spirit and the Contribution of Voltaire

• Deism or natural religion came to be acknowledged. An important propounder of this was Voltaire.

• While religious toleration increased religious persecution declined.

• John Milton, Locke and Montesquieu played prominent roles in the political field. Rousseau is remembered for his famous ’social contract’ theory.

• Thomas Jefferson’s views on education were acclaimed and accepted.

• A new era in the economic field was established the Adam Smith’s work The Wealth of Nations.

• Enlightened because they were highly accomplished and despots because they maintained their autocratic hold on the subjects.

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Index

5.0 - Introduction
5.1 Growth and Features of the Revolution
5.2 The Rationalist Spirit and the Contribution of Voltaire
5.3 Application of the Critical Spirit
5.4 Age of Enlightened Despots
5.5 Dates & Events
5.6 Points to Remember

Chapter 6