UD. 1: 18th Century.

Enlightenment
Enlighted Depotism.
1. INTRODUCTION. OLD REGIMEN.
1.1) Definition:
Political, social and economic system from Europe before the French
Revolution (1789)

1.2) Chronology:
It develops during the Middle Ages, it is affirmed during the Modern Age and
ends with the French Revolution. Antiguo Régimen
1.3) Characteristics:
- Politics. Two main government systems:
a) Absolutism. King has the absolute power by divine right. Alliance
between church and state. Example: Louis XIV of France (Louis the Great or the Sun King
(siglos XVII-XVIII) “El rey SOL” (L’estat c’est moi).
b) Parliamentarism. There is a parliament where the representatives of the
kingdom meet and serves as a counterweight to the king (parliamentary monarchy like
England) or a republic (United Provinces of the Netherlands)
1.3) Characteristics:
- Socials: SOCIEDAD ESTAMENTAL. ESTAMENTO (grupo social cerrado al que
se pertenece por nacimiento) Social stratification. Estate society.
Privileged estates:
nobility and clergy (5-
10% population)
-Do not work
-They don't pay taxes
-They are not affected by
the law (they have their
own)
-They hold political
power
-They enjoy most of the
land and wealth

Third state / common

people / pecheros (who
pay taxes):
-90-85% population
-They work to support
others
- No privileges
1.3) Characteristics:
- Economics:

Agriculture was the most important economic activity, it was

the source of wealth.
Agricultural production was not very abundant because old
techniques were used: TRIENNIAL ROTATION and
FALLOW (barbecho).

Crafts (artesanía) were very important in the cities (burgs):

BOURGEOISIE (burguesía). The artisans were organized in
GUILDS (gremios).

International trade spread, across the seas, especially after the

discovery of America (1492). Products arrived from all over the
world: spices, precious stones (from Asia), silks and porcelain
(China), cocoa, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, tobacco (America),
slaves, gold, diamonds (Africa). This trade made some
bourgeoisie very rich.
2. END OF THE OLD REGIMEN.
ENLIGHTENMENT
2.1) The Enlightenment (Ilustración).
-Definition: Philosophical movement from french origin.
-Chronology: 18th century
- Characteristics:
a) Racionalism (faith in reason): the use of reason to understand the world.
The enlightened defended study, learning, experimentation, travel... Scientific advances
are developed.

Voltaire y Rousseau
guiados por la Razón,
que ilumina el
camino.
Dibujo alegórico del
siglo XIX
- Characteristics:
b) They criticize absolutism because they consider it old and unfair.
c) They reject superstition and the influence of the Church.
d) The 18th century is the century of Enlightenment, (Age of Enlightenment)

e) Principles:
1. They want to change the world around them, the politics, the society of their
time.
2. Reason allows us to know the world, to acquire knowledge through
experimentation.
3. Happiness achieved through progress, change, advances.
4. The freedom of individuals as an universal and inalienable right.
5. Tolerance to different political and religious ideas.
6. Progress as a goal of society: scientific, social, economic advances.
- Ejemplos:
Smith
- La Enciclopedia de Diderot y D’Alambert
- Montesquieu, Voltaire y Rousseau
- Immanuel Kant Kant
- Adam Smith

- En España: Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Pablo de Olavide, el padre Benito Feijoó.

3. POLITICAL LIBERLISM (LIBERALISMO POLÍTICO)
AND DEPOTISM (DESPOTISMO ILUSTRADO)
3.1) Political liberalism.
- Definition: a new political approach defended by the enlightened to change
absolutism.

-Characteristics. Three thinkers:

a) Montesquieu: he criticized the absolute monarchy and
proposed THE SEPARATION OF POWERS (Executive: is
responsible for enforcing the rules of the state, they are the
rulers/ Legislative: makes the laws, it is the parliament, whose
members are elected by the people/ Judicial : they administer
justice and monitor the other powers, they are the courts, they
must be independent)
b) Voltaire: he criticized the Church, defended the rights of
citizens and tolerance between ideas and beliefs.
c) Rousseau: he criticized class society, inequality and injustice.
He proposed POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY, in which the
people elect their representatives and the government in
elections and if they do not comply, it can be changed. It is the
origin of modern democracy.
- Liberalism defends the development of a CONSTITUTION, it is the most important
document of a state, where it contains how it works and the fundamental rights and laws.
The King must swear and respect it.
3.2) Enlightened despotism.
- Definition: A form of absolute monarchy that introduces certain enlightened reforms to
improve the government and make it more effective, but without changing absolutism or
class society. Reforms are applied “from above”. The phrase of enlightened despotism:
“Everything for the people, but without the people” (“Todo para el pueblo, pero sin el
pueblo”)

El rey Federico II de Prusia visitando a los

campesinos
- Enlightened Despotism. Characteristics:
a) Rationalize (racionalización) the functioning of the state to make it more effective
(Eficiente). Centralization of power in the hands of the sovereign and his ministers.
b) Economic and political reforms:
-Administration and bureaucracy were reorganized;
-Improvements are introduced in agriculture (food production increased, the living
conditions of some farmers improved);
-Royal workshops and factories are created (employment grew, craftsmanship improves,
but they are a monopoly of the crown, there is no business freedom);
-New towns are founded (repopulation of wastelands: uncultivated territories/ fight against
bandits).
 - Enlightened Despotism. Characteristics :
-Some trade liberalizing measures
(medidas liberalizadoras del comercio) are
taken (to favor the wealth of the bourgeoisie
and thus collect more taxes);
-Communication routes were improved
(internal trade and communication between
the regions of the kingdom improved).

c) The kings practiced REGALISM

(influencing the Church, appointing
ecclesiastical positions or expelling religious
orders such as King Charles III of Spain
expelled the Jesuits, 1767)
 - Despotismo ilustrado. Ejemplos de monarcas:

La zarina Catalina II de Rusia

Carlos III de España

Luis XV de Francia

Federico II de Prusia