Glossary
Baroque Art
An artistic style prevalent until around 1750, characterized by drama, emotion, elaborate ornamentation, and high contrast, often used to convey power.
Example:
Bernini's 'Ecstasy of Saint Teresa' is a quintessential example of Baroque Art, captivating viewers with its intense emotion and theatricality.
Censorship
The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc., that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Example:
Monarchs often employed censorship to prevent the spread of revolutionary ideas that might undermine their absolute power.
Circumventing Censorship
The various strategies employed by intellectuals and writers to bypass government and Church control over printed materials and ideas.
Example:
To avoid official scrutiny, Diderot and his collaborators used clever phrasing and coded language when circumventing censorship in their monumental Encyclopédie.
Coffeehouses
Public establishments that served coffee and acted as important social and intellectual hubs where people could discuss news, politics, and philosophy.
Example:
London's bustling coffeehouses became vibrant centers where merchants, politicians, and intellectuals exchanged ideas and debated the latest pamphlets.
Consumerism
A social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.
Example:
The growing availability of mass-produced goods like porcelain and cotton textiles fueled a new era of consumerism among the rising middle class.
Enlightenment
An intellectual and cultural movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism over tradition and faith.
Example:
Thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau championed new ideas about government and human rights during the Enlightenment, laying groundwork for future revolutions.
Middle Class
A social class composed of people who are neither aristocrats nor manual laborers, typically involved in commerce, professions, or skilled trades.
Example:
The expanding trade and professional opportunities allowed the middle class to gain wealth and influence, often investing in education and new consumer goods.
Neoclassicism
An artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century, drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art, emphasizing order, reason, and civic virtue.
Example:
Jacques-Louis David's 'Oath of the Horatii' perfectly embodies Neoclassicism with its stoic figures, clear lines, and moralistic theme.
Pseudonyms
Fictitious names used by authors or intellectuals to conceal their true identity, often to avoid persecution or censorship.
Example:
Many Enlightenment writers published their most controversial works under pseudonyms to protect themselves from arrest or exile by the authorities.
Salons
Private gatherings, typically hosted by aristocratic women in their homes, where intellectuals, artists, and writers discussed Enlightenment ideas.
Example:
Madame Geoffrin's famous salons in Paris provided a crucial space for philosophers like Diderot to share and refine their radical thoughts.
Urbanization
The process by which populations shift from rural areas to cities, leading to the growth of urban centers and changes in social structures.
Example:
The Industrial Revolution accelerated urbanization across Europe, drawing millions from farms to factory towns in search of work.
Working Class
A social class comprising individuals who perform manual labor or industrial work for wages, often with limited economic power.
Example:
The burgeoning factories of the 18th century created a large working class that faced harsh conditions and long hours.