Important+Works


 * __Podcasts and Videos about Montesquieu__

Here is a podcast about the influence //The Persian Letters// had on the world. Click [|Here] Here is a podcast about Montesquieu's aims and inspirations during his life. Click [|Here] Here is a podcast about how //The Persian Letters// functions and its meaning. Click [|Here]

Here is a video I created about both of Montesquieu's works and their inspirations. **

Click [|Here] for video.
__Montesquieu's Important Works__


 * Charles-Louis Montesquieu wrote two of the most influential works during the time of the Enlightenment. These two works were called, //The Spirit of Laws// and //The Persian Letters.// //The Persian Letters// is a novel about two fictional characters, Usbek and Rice, who set out to Europe from Iran in 1711 and stay for 9 years. They write letters to each other about their experiences, good and bad. It described the two character's insight of the 18th century Paris. //The Spirit of Laws// is a book about the spirit that lay behind law based on political theory. It explains human laws and social institutions. He also writes about positive laws and social institutions created by unreliable human beings. In this popular book, Montesquieu combines the ideas of customary law with theories of natural law, trying to state that natural laws of the world should have relationship with political expression and government.

Most of Montesquieu's early works were based on biological investigations and the effect of environment on men. When he was writing //The Persian Letters// he was very interesting in all possibilities in life, hoping to become a naturalist. When //T// **//he Persian Letters// was published, Montesquieu was brought to wide notice through out France, raising him above the crowd in science and literature. Montesquieu's secretary quoted that //The Persian Letters// would "sell like bread" which came true in a short amount of time; fattening Montesquieu's wallet. After the publication of this inspirational book, different emotions about the book were put out. Many countrymen were pleased with it, while others were angry. The book angered many country women because the characters were only men and they felt women are capable of the same things. //The Persian Letters// caused some controversy with the King and Pope, but most people were pleased with it. One of the most eye catching characteristics of the book were the numerous themes such as mastery, slavery, jealousy, philosophy, tyranny, self-deception, nature, glory, and human sexuality. //The Persian Letters// inspired many people and it is still read today.

//The Spirit of Laws// was a book the influenced millions of people and documentaries through out history. This book has 31 chapters; the first seven about the different types of laws, 8-13 are about the types of governments and their abilities, and 14-31 talk about natural laws mixing with the laws of man. //The Spirit of Laws// describes types of governments, balancing powers of the government, and preserving liberty which is a system similar to checks and balances. When this political book was published it began a strong movement called constitutionalism, beginning the Revolution of 1789. It is one of the most important political books; it was an important source of the United States Constitution and influenced the democratic institutions in Europe. //The Spirit of Laws// was an important building block of history.

The two most important works that Montesquieu wrote were //The Spirit of Laws// and //The Persian Letters// but he also wrote two other works. One of his less successful works was //History of Louis XI// which was about the history of one of the most complicated but amazing men of the French Monarchy. Montesquieu's secretary was careless and did not get the script in on time, causing the manuscript to fail publication. This caused the book to never go out in public and get popular. After writing his two popular works he came out with a book called //Causes of Greatness and Decline of the Romans.// He wrote this book while learning about the Romans, their victories, and losses.

Overall, Montesquieu wrote some influential writings that made people began thinking of new ideas and different ways they could live their lives.

//Below:// Montesquieu's two most famous works.