Historical+events+-+Candide

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** Key Historical Events at the Time the Novel was Written ** //Candide, or Optimism// was written in 1758 and published in 1759. The book is believed to be written in his house in Ferney, France.

More information on Voltaire’s biography can be found on Shannon’s page (Voltaire’s Biography).

The Suppression of the Jesuit Order was the result of several political moves of when the Catholic church suppressed the Society of Jesus.
 * 1700s – Suppression of the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus)**

In the mid-18th century, the Jesuits (who were followers of the Catholic Church) were known to be a “foreign entity”, and were greedy plotters and exploited economies. They began to acquire wealth and possessions, and people did not like this. Various states began to expulse Jesuits from their land.

Soon the expulsion of Jesuits began in Paraguay (1755), America (1758), Portugal (1759) and France (1764).

In the book //Candide//, Voltaire mocks the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church, and depicts them holding indigenous people as slaves whilst claiming to be helping them.

The age of Enlightenment was roughly centered in the 18th century and was based upon Western philosophy. The society was based upon reason, freedom (particularly freedom of speech) and democracy as its primary values. Rationality and science was becoming a strong belief, rather than religion and people become to critical question traditions, morals and customs.
 * 1700s – Age of Enlightenment (Enlightenment Period)**

To justify problems and ethics, people relied on rationality and philosophy, rather than on faith. The Enlightenment period is marked by increasing empiricism, scientific rigor, reductionism and the questioning of religious orthodoxy.

More information of the Enlightenment Period can be found in Louis’ page (The Enlightenment Period).

This earthquake was one of Voltaire’s main triggers to writing the book, //Candide.// On the 1st November, the earthquake struck, lasting 3-6 minutes and causing gigantic fissures in the city. This earthquake triggered a tsunami where the water receded, revealing a sea floor littered by lost cargo and old shipwrecks, after which a tsunami hit downtown and the harbour. Where the tsunami didn’t reach, fires broke out. In Lisbon there was an estimate of 30,000-40,000 people killed out of the 200,000 population.
 * 1755 – Lisbon Earthquake**

Voltaire attacks optimistic belief that says that this was the “best possible world” and that this was for the greater good. He sarcastically describs the catastrophe as one of the most horrible disasters "in the best of all possible worlds".

Further information on the Lisbon Earthquake can be found in Beck’s page (Purpose of the Text – Why Did Voltaire Write It?)

The Seven Years’ War was a global military conflict between 1756 and 1763, amongst the great powers of the time. This included North and Central America, Europe, the West African coast, India and the Philippines. The war was driven by trade and colonial empires overlapping and conflicting with each other as well as territorial conflicts, and several powers opposed each other because of this. Much of the conflicts was characterized by the sieges of towns and open battles. In all, approximately 900,000 to 1,400,000 people died. The Seven Years’ War occurred in many areas, and is composed of four major wars, the French and Indian War in USA (1754-1763), Pomeranian War in Sweden (1657-1762), Third Carnatic War in India (1757-1763) and Third Silesian War in Germany and Austria (1756-1763).
 * 1756 – Outbreak of the Seven Years’ War**

In //Candide//, Voltaire attacks several European governments such as France and Prussia for the Seven Years’ War, the Portuguese for their Inquisition and the British for their execution of Admiral John Byng.

More information of the Seven Years’ War can be found on Jack’s page (Seven Years’ War) and Beck’s page.

Admiral John Byng (1704-1757) was a Royal Naval officer who had quite a reputation as a naval officer in the mid 18th century. Byng is most famous for the loss in the Battle of Minorca, just in the beginning of the Seven Years’ War in 1756. The Battle of Minorca consisted of a French naval attack invading the island of Minorca, which at the time was under British possession. During the Battle of Minorca, the Admiral was given an insufficient naval army of ten unseaworthy ships that were leaked, which was inadequately manned. He was not given enough time or money to prepare for the sail to Minorca. On the 19th of May, Byng arrived at the Island of Minorca, and the battle with the French began the following day. During the battle, Byng displayed considerable caution and his fleet was damaged severely, although no ships were lost on either side. The French sailed away unscathed, and Byng refused to press on to relieve the garrison or pursue the French fleet. These actions resulted in severe criticism and Byng was court-martialled for failing to do all he could to fulfil his orders (not doing their utmost against the enemy). The Admiralty blamed the fall of Minorca on Byng, in order to cover for its own poor preparation for the venture. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Bynd was executed on 14th March 1757 by firing squad.
 * 1757 – Execution of Admiral John Byng**

As said before, Voltaire attacks the British for their execution of Admiral Byng, and portrays Byng in the book //Candide// as an unknown admiral being executed by firing squad for failing to properly engage a French fleet. This execution was described as necessary from time to time "pour l'encouragement des autres" (to encourage others).

[|http://en.wikipedia.org] - Topics in John Byng, Battle of Minorca, Candide, Voltaire, Seven Years’ War, 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Suppression of the Society of Jesus, Age of Enlightenment
 * Sources and Links**

[] - Information on Voltaire and links historical events to his works