Essential Enlightenment: Montesquieu

Video

Mark Cartwright
by The Fraser Institute
published on 16 November 2023

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu—better known simply as Montesquieu—was a French nobleman, judge, novelist, and also a decisive figure in the early years of the Enlightenment, whose impact can still be seen in Western democracies around the world. One of Montesquieu’s most lasting legacies is the idea of separating powers within government among different branches: legislative, executive and judiciary. He was also a firm believer in the power of commerce and markets, and was one of the first to realize the moral benefits of trade, ideas that influenced Adam Smith and David Hume, considered the founders of economics. Watch this video to learn more, and visit www.EssentialEnlightenment.org.

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Institute, T. F. (2023, November 16). Essential Enlightenment: Montesquieu. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3078/essential-enlightenment-montesquieu/

Chicago Style

Institute, The Fraser. "Essential Enlightenment: Montesquieu." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified November 16, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3078/essential-enlightenment-montesquieu/.

MLA Style

Institute, The Fraser. "Essential Enlightenment: Montesquieu." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Nov 2023. Web. 15 Oct 2024.

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