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Montesquieu: The Rise Of Absolutism And Enlightenment

788 Words4 Pages

The Continent of Europe has go through many times of change and revelations with one of these biggest changes taking place within the years 1650-1800 with this changing being the rise of Absolutism and Enlightenment. The rise of these two ideals allowed for the rise of many major figureheads within these ideals to come to light. One of these that was possible the most important Enlightened thinkers in the political sphere was born right in the middle of this time under the name of Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu.

Biography
Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu or commonly just called Montesquieu was born on January 19th, 1689 at La Brède, near Bordeaux France, to a very noble and prosperous …show more content…

During this time he had to hear many legal proceedings, supervised prisons, and administered various punishments including things as malicious as torture. However whenever he was able to he would be active in the Academy of Bordeaux. This is where Montesquieu would keep a track of scientific developments, and give papers on topics ranging from the causes of echoes to the motives that should lead us to pursue the sciences. However, even though he gave speeches from all of the many topics that were researched at the time his main passion was the in the spirit that lay behind law. It was from the interest in this field that he created his greatest work The Spirit of the Laws. His passion for this was so great that in order to continue his studying this field he sold his office as president of the Bordeaux Parlement in …show more content…

Because of this though older than most noblemen starting on the grand tour, he decided to complete his education by foreign travel. After his travels to many place including places such as Hungary, Italy, Holland, Germany, and England. During his travels Montesquieu had made a wide circle of acquaintances within England. He became a close friend of the dukes of Richmond and Montagu. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society along with the fact he attended parliamentary debates and read the political journals of the day. Then in addition of all of that he also was inducted as a Freemason showing that he was widely respected for his ideals and accomplishments not just within France but all across

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