Enlightenment: The Most Significant Non-Political Revolution

The Enlightenment was the most significant non-political revolution between the 1600s and the 1800s. Also known as the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment was the most crucial revolution because its ideas challenged existing governments and promoted democratic revolutions, which made the revolution successful and important. Although the Enlightenment was not successful in some areas, it impacted various groups, and had many notable effects around the world. As a result, the Enlightenment clearly is the most significant revolution.
During the Enlightenment, people began discussing and writing about the role of government and the rights of individuals. Philosophers wanted to enlighten people about their fundamental rights and how government could

One monarch that was changed by the Enlightenment was Frederick the Great. This Prussian king strongly admired Voltaire’s ideas and was inspired to tolerate religious differences. In fact, he declared, “In my kingdom, everyone can go to Heaven in his own fashion.” In addition, he encouraged freedom of expression. Another example of how the Enlightenment changed governments was through Joseph II. He disguised himself so that he could mix in with the peasants to learn about their problems. The Enlightenment led him to modernize his government and improve life for the

Many upper class advocated for the ideas preached by Thomas Hobbes, who thought man was “solitary, nasty, poor, brutish, and short.” He also believed that man needed a strong central government like a monarch to keep them from acting out. The elite argued that man needed a monarch to maintain order. Today, there are people who continue to believe this and who advocate for this. Brunei, Swaziland, and Saudi Arabia still have powerful monarchs who have control. The Enlightenment also impacted the lives of the poor. Although the poor were too busy struggling with the challenges of day to day life to be concerned with philosophical discussions in salons, those meetings led to changes in the governments which affected them. These changes gave these common people a voice in the government. For example, suffrage was extended to the rural peasantry of France during the French Revolution. Although these peasants had never read the works of Locke, Voltaire, or Montesquieu, their right to participate in government, their right to vote, was ensured with the Declaration of the Rights of Man. This right continues today. The poor and uneducated cling to this right, a right furthered by the Enlightenment. The most notable short term effects of the Enlightenment were the challenges to existing governments. The Enlightenment led to revolutions in the Americas and in France. In