Enlightenment ideas: science and politics
I can describe Enlightenment ideas concerning science and politics.
Enlightenment ideas: science and politics
I can describe Enlightenment ideas concerning science and politics.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Enlightenment ideas around observation, experience and experiment helped pave the way for greater scientific thought.
- The Enlightened thinkers believed that governments should work for the benefit of the people.
- More people believed in the idea that people should be able to hold their governments to account.
- Some Enlightened thinkers began to question ideas of monopolies and trade, arguing they should benefit all, not a few.
- Some Enlightened thinkers developed racist ideas of European superiority and African inferiority.
Keywords
Enlightenment - the Enlightenment was a movement in the 1600s and 1700s that promoted the use of reason and questioned authority
Social contract - a social contract is an agreement that rulers should govern in a way that benefits the people in exchange for having power over them
Monopoly - when one group has total control over an area of business or trade, this is known as a monopoly
Paradox - a paradox is when a statement or idea appears to contradict itself
Colonialism - colonialism involves taking control of another country and taking advantage of its resources and people
Common misconception
All Enlightenment thinkers were racist.
Some Enlightenment thinkers promoted racist theories while others advocated for equality.
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: Enlightenment ideas: science and politics, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: Enlightenment ideas: science and politics, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Enlightenment: what was the Enlightenment? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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