HIS241H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Crane Brinton, French Revolution, Antireligion
Document Summary
Interested in the causes, the course and consequences of political and social revolutions. Trying to understand what they all mean. Writing in the shadow of the russian revolution. English parliamentarians put king on trial and cut off his head. They went back to the principles of ancient rome and applied it to their time. Stages : collapse of the old order, long and short term causes. About destruction of the ancient regime: moderate political revolution (1789-1792, france) Declaration of human rights: radical revolution, reign of terror (1792-1797) Return of the status quo pro ante, concert of. Concert of europe: all of europe comes together and establishes. About ideas of progress, democracy, secularism, reason. Initiates a new period in history when thinkers and writers come together and look to reason above all else. Enlightenment is the expression of intellectual maturity. Attainment of knowledge by using one"s reason. Getting to truth by using your own reason without outside influence.
