Question 1

Jonathan Swift and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were both skeptics who did not support the broad Enlightenment principle that reason was the cure for all of humanity's problems.

Accepted Answer

Jonathan Swift and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were critical of the Enlightenment's overemphasis on reason, with Swift using satire to highlight human folly and Rousseau emphasizing emotion and the flaws of civilization.

Question 2

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's political writings, including Discourse on the Origins of Inequality Among Men (1754) and The Social Contract (1762), attracted widespread attention and support during his lifetime.

Accepted Answer

Rousseau's political writings were controversial and did not gain widespread support during his lifetime; they were more influential after his death.

Question 3

Carl Linnaeus developed his taxonomic system as part of attempt to reveal the relationships between creatures and uncover the mind of God in the living world.

Accepted Answer

Carl Linnaeus, a devout Christian, believed that by classifying and organizing the natural world, he was uncovering the divine order and understanding God's creation.

Question 4

By the end of the eighteenth century, some European rulers began to promote religious tolerance as a way to increase their own power and enhance the productivity of their states.

Accepted Answer

During the Enlightenment, some European rulers adopted policies of religious tolerance to reduce internal conflict, attract skilled immigrants, and improve economic productivity, thereby strengthening their own power.

Question 5

Jesuit missionaries continued to receive widespread support throughout the eighteenth century, particularly in relation to their attempts to accommodate Indigenous and customs with Christian practices.

Accepted Answer

In the eighteenth century, Jesuit missionaries faced increasing opposition and were eventually suppressed in many regions, as their methods and influence were seen as controversial and politically threatening.

Question 6

Pietism enjoyed support in Brandenburg-Prussia because Elector Frederick III believed that it provided a way to strengthen the relationship between the ruler and the people.

Accepted Answer

Pietism emphasized personal piety and devotion, which Frederick III saw as a means to promote moral and obedient subjects, thereby strengthening the bond between the ruler and his people by fostering a more devout and harmonious society.

Question 7

People learned to read before they learned to write in the early modern period, so there were a number of people who could read but not sign their names.

Accepted Answer

Reading was often taught before writing due to the complexity of writing techniques and the resources required, leading to a higher number of individuals who could read but not write their own names.

Question 8

Catholic countries did not see the same increase in literacy during the early modern period because the Roman Catholic Church forbade the practice of individual Bible reading.

Accepted Answer

The Roman Catholic Church did not universally forbid individual Bible reading. The increase in literacy in Catholic countries during the early modern period was influenced by various factors, including the Church's own efforts in education through schools and universities. The Church's stance on Bible reading was more about regulating vernacular translations to ensure doctrinal correctness rather than outright forbidding individual engagement with the scriptures.

Question 9

Universities witnessed fundamental transformations in education during the early modern period and remained at the forefront of innovation in education.

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Question 10

There is considerable evidence to suggest that enlightened ideas permeated society and brought about significant changes to people's culture and beliefs.

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Question 11

What were the general principles and assumptions of Enlightenment thought?

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Question 12

As a movement, the Enlightenment had three broad phases. What were the three phases of the Enlightenment?

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Question 13

Who were the philosophes?

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Question 14

The German sociologist Jürgen Habermas discusses the idea of the public sphere. What was the public sphere?

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Question 15

What role did Jean Calas play in Voltaire's ideas?

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Question 16

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu was a giant of the early Enlightenment, whose greatest work was The Spirit of the Laws. What was the content and significance of The Spirit of the Laws?

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Question 17

The Encyclopédie was a significant work of the Enlightenment. What was the Encyclopédie?

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Question 18

Religion in the Enlightenment is often associated with Deism. What was Deism?

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Question 19

The critique of organized and established religion was a central feature of the Enlightenment, but this critique did not emerge suddenly in the eighteenth century. What were the precedents and foundation of this critique?

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Question 20

What principles united Enlightenment political philosophy?

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Quiz 9: Culture and Religion in the Age of the Enlightenment