THE ENLIGHTENMEN

TTHE AGE OF REASONS

GALILEO GALILIE

ORIGIN: ITALY

BIRTH: 1564

DEATH: 1642

DISCOVERY AND CONFLICTS WITH THE CHURCH:

Proved that the sun and not the earth is the centre of the universe.

Invented the telescope so the heavens could be studied in more detail.

This discovery challenged church teachings which maintained that the earth was the centre of the universe.

JOHANNES KEPLER

ORIGIN: GERMANY

BIRTH: 1571

DEATH: 1630

DISCOVERY AND PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS:

Proved that the planets obey strict natural mathematical laws in their movements.

People began to wonder how many other aspects of life are controlled by definite physical laws.

RENE DESCARTES

ORIGIN: FRANCE

BIRTH: 1596

DEATH: 1650

CONTRIBUTIONS: Laid down the basic principles

of algebra modern geometry. Although he believed in God,

he said that humans and animals are complicated machines.

Argued that everything in the universe could be explained.

ISAAC NEWTON

ORIGIN: ENGLAND

BIRTH: 1642

DEATH: 1727

DISCOVERY: Showed that when things fell to

the ground they to were obeying fixed natural laws of science.

JOHN LOCKE

ORIGIN: ENGLAND

BIRTH: 1632

DEATH: 1704

ARGUMENT: Argued that there is an

unwritten contract between rulers and the people.

If the rulers were tyrannous and unjust to their subjects the people should be at liberty to depose them.

JEAN-JAQUES ROUSSEAU

ORIGIN: FRANCE

BIRTH: 1712

DEATH: 1778

CONTRIBUTION: Took John Locke's argument a step

further. In his famous book THE SOCIAL

CONTRACT he argues that there should be an implied contract between the government and the people.

He argued that the will of majority is the most important political force and those who disagree are wrong.

VOLTAIRE

ORIGIN: FRANCE

BIRTH: 1694

DEATH: 1778

CONTRIBUTION: His cry was “Destroy Evil” and

what he saw as evil was injustice , absolute power of the king and the Catholic Church.

Demanded that everyone be given the right of free speech.

Wanted his country to adopt a system of government similar to that of England.

FREDERICK THE GREAT

ORIGIN: GERMANY, KING OF PRUSSIA

RULING TIME:

1740-1786

ACHIEVEMENTS: Made Prussia into one of the

leading states in Europe. Developed a very strong army. Released his own serfs and

made everyone equal under the law.

MARIA THERESA

ORIGIN: AUSTRIA

RULING TIME: 1740-1780

ACHIEVEMENTS: Reformed taxation so that

people of all classes paid taxes. Build many schools. Her courts and governments

were fair.

CATHERINE THE GREAT

ORIGIN: GERMANY, QUEEN OF RUSSIA

RULING TIME: 1762-1796

CONTRIBUTIONS: Had her husband, the tsar murdered

and ruled the country on her own. Set up schools and universities. Reduced the power of the church by

taking away much of it’s land. Although wanted to free the serfs,

she could not as the economy of the entire Russian state depended upon them.