The Enlightenment and the Public Sphere - European Civilization 1648-1945

Explore the cultural transformation in France leading up to the Revolution in this 48-minute lecture from Yale University's European Civilization course. Examine how the Enlightenment impacted society through six key aspects, and discover the role of the public sphere in spreading new ideas. Learn about the influence of academies, Masonic lodges, and salons, as well as the contributions of lesser-known writers and pamphleteers. Investigate the process of desacralizing the French monarchy, the emergence of legal critiques challenging royal authority, and the impact of scandalous royal affairs on public perception. Gain insights into how various forms of writing, from lawyers' briefs to pornographic novels, contributed to the critique of despotism and set the stage for revolutionary change.

- Chapter 1. Six Ways That the Enlightenment Mattered .
- Chapter 2. The Spread of Enlightenment Thinking through the Public Sphere: Academies, Masonic Lodges, and Salons .
- Chapter 3. The Enlightenment among the Grub Street Hacks.
- Chapter 4. Desacralization of the French Monarchy .
- Chapter 5. Legal Briefs on the Despotism of the Monarchy: The Law as a New Source of Sovereignty.
- Chapter 6. Sensational Royal Affairs: The Erosion of Monarchical Prestige .