World History: Illustrated Timeline

  • Hobbes Publishes Leviathan

    Hobbes got the leviathan published in 1651. The book's genre is political philosophy. In this book he talks about the power of the common wealth and how important it was. The book is also about human nature. Hobbes believes that humans are born with evil and not good. They can be raised to be good, but aren't born with good.
  • Locke Publishes "Two Treatises on Government"

    In Locke's book he attacked many religions. Not many were very happy about it and hated the book. Citizens claimed it was a book against civil liberties. They have a freedom of religion, but Locke challenged that right. Many officials and churches were very upset with Locke.
  • Montesquieu publishes, "The Spirit of the Laws."

    His book demands to have a constitutional government. They were living in an unfair government and wanted out. They had their civil liberties taken away and were unhappy about it. Many of the slaves liked this book and this way of government because it ends slavery and allows equality. He believes politics should reflect social status. With a constitutional government there are three sectors, Judicial, Legislative, and Executive.
  • Rousseau publishes, "The Social Contract."

    The social contract is a contract between government and it's citizens. The contract created a civil law decided by a majority vote. The majority of the citizens wanted to have equality and a fair ruler. They didn't want to have just one person in charge like a monarchy. They wanted to have a democratic government with three branches that could check each other.
  • Beccaria publishes, " On Crime and Punishment."

    He reveals the reality of capital punishment. He showed them that it was terrible and unethical. He wants to have it abolished. He showed how these new laws were good if you were bad, but if you were good the laws were terrible and no help to you. Capital punishment is evil and should have never been created and should have better laws for victims.