The Age of Enlightenment

Summary

The Age of Enlightenment, occurring in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, was a transformative cultural, intellectual, and scientific movement. Emphasizing reason, individual rights, and scientific progress, it challenged traditional authority and laid the groundwork for modern democracy.

Facts

The Enlightenment emphasized the power of reason for understanding the world and making decisions.

Influential philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant played key roles in promoting the use of reason.

The era gave rise to a focus on individual rights and freedoms, contributing to the foundations of modern democracy.

The American and French Revolutions were significant outcomes of the Enlightenment, impacting the global landscape.

Scientific and technological advancements during this period, led by figures like Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle, shaped the understanding of the world.

The Enlightenment’s influence on science laid the groundwork for further scientific progress.