The 18th century marked profound changes in European society and its political and economic relations. The absolutism that was until then the form of government of the monarchies entered a process of decline and the royal power gradually diminished during this period. One of the main influences for the downfall of absolutist regimes was the emergence of the period known as Enlightenment, which promoted significant changes in human thinking.
O Enlightenment it was a period of European history that, in addition to decreeing the decline of absolutist policies, enabled man to have a new way of understanding the world. Enlightenment ideas were put into practice by philosophers and scientists who decided to interpret human nature through science. Thus, rationalism was the keyword of this change that inaugurated the period that became known as Enlightenment, putting scientific reason as a way to investigate life.
Scientists from different areas began to research the laws of the universe, with the aim of demystifying the divine interference in nature. Others sought to contribute with studies in the field of politics and laws, trying to build a more rational society, with man as the center of everything. Therefore, science has become the path in search of answers and solutions to humanity's problems.
Among the best known theorists of this period were: Montesquieu (1689 – 1755), who was the author of the book called "The Spirit of Laws", which proposed a more democratic and less centralized government; Voltaire (1694 – 1778), who criticized the speech of the Catholic Church; and Jean-Jacques Rosseau (1712 – 1778), who in his work “The social contract” criticized the structures policies of absolutism and developed the thesis of popular democracy in which the people would have their needs answered.
Enlightenment ideals promoted intense social and scientific transformations. Man started to have a new alternative to understand the world through science. Therefore, the Enlightenment influenced the construction of the political regimes of various civilizations, the slogan Equality, Liberty and Fraternity influenced different popular movements around the world, including in Brazil.
By Fabricio Santos
Graduated in History
