18th Century Economic, Scientific and Artistic Developments

Vocabulary

• Mercantilism: An economic theory arguing that foreign trade is the primary method to acquire precious metals, which were considered the vital force for national prosperity.
• Physiocracy: An economic theory stating that the fundamental source of a state's wealth is agriculture, rather than trade.
• Steam Engine: The first machine to use steam as a driving force, which allowed for the replacement of animal or natural forces in industrial activities.
• Rocaille: A decorative style that mimics stones and shells.

Science, Culture, and Art in the 18th Century

Adam Smith (1723-1790) developed the theory of economic liberalism, which defended the freedom to produce and trade to achieve national wealth. He criticized monopolies and guild limitations. Technical progress responded to economic demands, with England acting as the pioneer. James Watt (1736-1819) invented the steam engine, and a significant technical advance was the widespread method of obtaining cast iron using coke.

The Spread of Enlightenment Ideas

Enlightenment ideas circulated through the press and books, most notably in the Encyclopédie. Led by Diderot and d'Alembert, it was published between 1751 and 1772. Enlightenment ideas spread through coffee houses, taverns, and the salons of the nobility and high bourgeoisie. A key feature of the era was the creation of academies and reading societies, which became the first lending libraries.

The scientific and cultural contributions of women were of great relevance during the Enlightenment, including:

• Émilie du Châtelet (1706-1749): The first translator of Newton into French.
• Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718-1799): A mathematician and linguist.
• Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797): A British philosopher and writer.

Art of the 18th Century

Two opposing art movements defined the century: Rococo and Neoclassicism.

The Rococo style, whose name derives from the excessive use of rock-like decorative elements, is primarily a decorative style that influenced sculpture, painting, and minor arts such as porcelain, mirrors, glass, ceramics, and furniture. It developed in the first half of the 18th century during the era of absolute monarchies and a stratified society.