Science and Army in the Enlightenment's World: The Erudits of Jose Cadalso

The scientific interests of the Spanish Crown were satisfied by the University, the Church and the Armies. The aim of this article is to underline the characteristics of the new "savant" emerging from the enlightened institutions. Thus, a comparison is traced between two distinguished officers, the French Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis and the Spanish Jose de Cadalso. New approaches to learning and teaching and a growing interest in science, coming from both the Crown and European enlightened societies, are presented. Even the new roles of women in scientific fields have been necessarily taken into account: these are shown in new books, institutions and social relations.