AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

War of Austrian Succession Seven Year War/ French Indian War

Enlightened Monarchs

Also known as the Age of Reason• Scientific Revolution laid the foundation for a modern

world view based on:– Rationalism = reason is the chief source of knowledge– Secularization = indifference to or rejection of religion

or religious consideration• Use the scientific method to make progress towards a

better society– Reason could be used to study and question human

nature and society• Philosophe = intellectual of the Enlightenment– Want to change the world– Mostly of the nobility and middle class, most are

French

• Salon = elegant drawing rooms, where philosophes meet to discuss and spread ideas– Usually hosted by wealthy women

• Enlightenment influenced by two Englishmen:– Newton – find natural laws, using his methods, that

govern human society– Locke – people are molded by their experiences and

can change with environment• Philosophes began to question ideas that had been long

held as absolute truths, such as absolute monarchy and hierarchy in society

Scientific Revolution Enlightenment Revolutions

Enlightened Monarchs• Also known as Enlightened Absolutists, these are

European monarchs who sought to govern using Enlightenment ideals– They were able to play with the ideas of the

philosophes without threatening their own power– Did not bring about much reform, thought it would

take away from their own power• Three well-known Enlightened Monarchs– Frederick II the Great of Prussia– Catherine the Great of Russia– Joseph II of Austria

War of Austrian Succession• Rivalry between the Austrian family, the Hapsburgs,

and the Prussian family, the Hollenzollerns• Austrian Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI had no male

heir so he issued the Pragmatic Sanction– Stated that the empire could be passed to a female

heir, his daughter Maria Theresa– Also all Hapsburg lands would remain intact under

one ruler– All European rulers agreed to this

• In 1740 Charles dies and Frederick the Great of Prussia, followed quickly by France, violate the Sanction and invade Austrian territory

– Prussia seizes Silesia, one of the richest Austrian provinces

– Great Britain joins the war on the side of Austria against France, Prussia, and Spain

• Fought in three areas of the world:– Europe– Asia–North America

• At the end of the war in 1748, all property is returned except Silesia, which Prussia keeps

Seven Years’ War/ French and Indian War• Lasts from 1756 to 1763• Austria is angry about Silesia and wants revenge– Diplomatic Revolution = Austria makes an alliance

with traditional enemy France against Prussia• Russia also joins, although they pull out during the

war– Due to this, Great Britain allies with Prussia

• Rivalries over colonies also played a major role in leading to this war

• Areas of conflict:– Europe – all territories returned at war’s end

– India – known as the Great War for Empire• France leaves India to Britain

– North America – also known as the French and Indian War• Britain gains Canada from France and Florida from

Spain• Louisiana Territory goes to Spain (for losing

Florida)• The war ends with Prussia winning on the European

continent and Great Britain winning overseas– The Treaty of Paris makes Great Britain the world’s

greatest colonial power– France loses big and wants revenge