In the 16-18th centuries, Europe was in a Cultural Revolution, all climaxing to the French Revolution. Great strides were made in science, with Galileo’s work and the confirmation of the heliocentric theory. This theory was first studied by Copernicus, who disagreed with Aristotle’s theory of a geocentric solar system. Vesalius began to dissect cadavers and progressed in medicine and study of human anatomy. Martin Luther and Henry VIII had sparked the Protestant Reformation, and new religions began to form all throughout Europe, challenging the Catholic Church. Artists created new styles of painting and architecture, leaving the simple, poorly done works of the medieval ages behind. Isaac Newton introduced calculus, the discovery of gravity and his three laws of motion.

All of these cultural nuances allowed people to act and think for themselves, as well as challenging their prior beliefs and knowledge. Queen Elizabeth of England was becoming one of the greatest female rulers and she was making England one of the most powerful countries in the world. Voltaire was promoting freedom of speech and religion, and the separation of church and state. Ideas such as his would lead to the demise of the Holy Roman Empire. By affecting state affairs pertaining to freedoms, justice, and legislature, Queen Elizabeth of England and Voltaire empowered the people of their times to think and be free.

Queen Elizabeth empowered others by granting religious freedom and securing the social and economic structure of England. Queen Elizabeth I of England was one of the most powerful rulers of her time. Although she was a female ruler, France and Spain respected and feared her. “[Elizabeth had] the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but [she] had the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too.”(Elizabeth) She created an England that had more freedoms than any other European country, for example religious tolerance and more freedoms of speech. Although Ireland was under her control and she had created a Protestant nation in England, she let the Irish keep their Catholic faith. Even though she raised taxes, the economy thrived during her reign. This allowed people to start their own businesses and it created a higher income middle class. Also, because her foreign policies were mostly defensive, she would have more funds to spend on problems within England. One of her most important positions was her position on government.

She realized that she was only the monarch because of popular consent; and therefore had to please the citizens of England and Ireland if she was going to remain in power. She chose to listen to members of the Parliament she knew told the truth so that she could take what the people thought into consideration. All of her revolutionary policies empowered the people of England and of Ireland. She pleased many of the people of England because she brought them back to the same religion they had had under Henry VIII. This was Protestantism and played a key role in her popularity. She encouraged the people to become Protestants, but never discouraged the Catholics of Ireland. Thus she let people chose what religion they wanted, which was empowering because people could make more decisions in their lives and not have to rigidly obey the government.

This was essential because she ruled during the Protestant Reformation. She also gave the people patriotism by becoming more actively involved with the citizens and trying to unite all of Britain. This was something that was not common in Europe and especially not England. England was divided into many parts, Scotland, England, Ireland, Northumberland, and many other separate groups, all with a similar culture. She united England, which was mainly split due to religious differences, and this let people feel a sense of pride and empowered them to do what they could for their country. Elizabeth’s innovative way of ruling empowered her people.

One of the most progressive thinkers of his time, Voltaire empowered people through his thoughts, and directly through Frederick the Great. Voltaire was one of France’s greatest philosophers. He himself was an atheist, but believed in freedom of religion. He also believed in pantheism, a belief which directly reflected the ideas of the time, that god is not a being, more an abstract idea that makes up natural laws and the universe. He also believed in right to a fair trial and the abolishment of capital punishment. He sought to create a government that was fair and just to its people. Although he was an enlightened thinker, he did not share the democratic beliefs of many others; rather he believed in enlightened despotism, in which a monarch is advised by enlightened thinkers to make decisions.

This he said was the proper way to rule because people need a strong leader, and that democracy was ineffective and “propogat[ed] the idiocy of the masses.” (Voltaire) His ideas greatly influenced Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia. Frederick deemed his ideas about freedom of religion and civil liberties important to maintain a just government. Also, Frederick did not change to democracy; rather his monarchy was a form of enlightened despotism. This he created by surrounding himself with scholars of the time to help him make decisions for his government albeit he ultimately settled matters himself. This empowered the people because they could live in a free country and choose their religion, although Voltaire did not believe in god. People could also defend themselves in a court with Voltaire’s ideas of civil liberties and a fair trial.

Voltaire encouraged people to settle matters for themselves. They could argue for themselves in court, rather than having a punishment decided for them. His ideas of freedom and government led people to interpret things for themselves, rather than just doing what Aristotle or the Church said. Voltaire believed in freedom of speech, and went to jail several times because of it. He never quit, and was example for others to do and say what they wanted. He encouraged people to contribute their ideas to society and also to challenge and defy what others said.

Queen Elizabeth I and Voltaire significantly impacted the people of their time. Along with many other philosophers, rulers, and scientists of the time, they empowered people to be emancipated and to have better lives. Queen Elizabeth affected people through her position as Queen, and setting an example for other rulers of Europe. Voltaire affected people through his ideas and writings. Europe would not have developed without the advanced political ideas that they contributed. By influencing Europe’s political ideas and civil liberties, Voltaire and Queen Elizabeth I empowered others.