History of the Enlightenment (Members Only)

A painted mural shows a group of historical figures, both men and women, in period clothing including kilts, robes, and uniforms, standing in a line with their names written above their heads in gold letters.

History of the Enlightenment

Drawing of a nude human figure with outstretched arms and legs, superimposed with both a circle and a square, illustrating proportions, known as Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.

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Perspective

Our digital history of the Enlightenment focuses on an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated thinking in Europe during the 18th century. It developed a new ethos centered on certain key tenets: the pursuit of happiness, the primacy of reason, and the certainty of the senses as the primary source of knowledge. With this, new thinking took shape in civil liberties, tolerance, humanism, the belief that government can change hands peaceably in an orderly succession of power, and the separation of church and state. These ideas challenged the foundations of European statecraft and the bedrock authority of the Church.

The ideas of philosophes and scientists circulated through meetings at scientific academies, esoteric orders like the Masons, and the salons and coffeehouses of London and Paris where books, journals, and pamphlets were read and discussed. The rationalism and humanism of the Enlightenment eroded the divine authority of the monarchy and the Church. It went on to play a key role in the political revolutions in America, France, and elsewhere across the Continent in the 19th century. The 19th-century movements of liberalism, communism, and neoclassicism had their roots in the Enlightenment.

That said, here’s our assortment… please enjoy! When you’re done perusing a map, click the ⇠ back arrow link in the upper left of your screen (not the < link), and you’ll be back here. Any problems, please get in touch at terrence@wisdommaps.info.

Abstract artwork featuring overlapping leaf shapes outlined in white, filled with rust-brown hues, arranged in a square with a dark border on a light background.

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Index

Enlightenment Index | Women | Culture: Architecture • Art • Learning • Literature: Novels • Travel | Music: Classical Period • Bach • Handel • Mozart • Haydn | Philosophy: Philosophes • Old Regime • Faith or Reason? • Age of Reason • English and Dutch Phases • Radical Enlightenment • Later Enlightenment • Adam Smith • Physiocrats • | Popular Culture | Scholarship | Science and Technology | Medicine | Religion: Authority • Sects | Power: Law • Reform

An illustrated chart titled An Encyclopedy of Age of Enlightenment citizens & kings, showing portraits organized by themes: Philosophy, Politick, Literature, Sciences, Theology, and Art, with decorative borders.

The Enlightenment

A young woman in historical clothing sits at a table with an open book. She wears a white dress with a dark robe and sash, and her hair is styled up. Books and draped fabric are in the background.

Society: Women

A group of elegantly dressed men in 18th-century attire gather around a table, two seated and engaged in conversation, while others stand behind them, listening and holding papers in a richly decorated room.

Culture

A vintage, black-and-white architectural drawing of the Birmingham Theatre, showing a symmetrical building with arched windows, columns, and decorative details, labeled “Hotel and Tavern” at the bottom.

Culture: Architecture

An 18th-century room with ornate decor; a startled woman sits at a table, a man slumps in a chair with a dog, and another man reacts dramatically near the door. Scattered objects suggest a scene of chaos or argument.

Culture: Art

Close-up painting of an older person with pale skin, blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and white hair, looking slightly to the left. The background is dark, highlighting the persons facial features.

Culture: Learning

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Seven men in 18th-century clothing gather around a table in a library, engaged in discussion as one reads from a book. Bookshelves fill the background, creating a scholarly atmosphere.

Culture: Literature

A worn title page of an old book reads: Candide, ou L’Optimisme, traduit de l’allemand de Mr. le Docteur Ralph, with a small decorative emblem and the Roman numerals MDCCLIX (1759) at the bottom.

Literature: Novels

Several sailing ships and small boats are anchored near a tropical coastline with palm trees. People gather along the shore, some unloading goods, with hills and cloudy sky in the background.

Literature: Travel

Five men in elaborate 18th-century clothing sit and stand around a table with sheet music. One plays a cello, another holds a flute, and a third points to the music as they discuss or prepare to perform.

Culture: Music

A group of four men in 18th-century clothing playing string instruments around a music stand, suggesting a classical music ensemble in an elegant, historical room.

Music: Classical Period

A painted portrait of an older man with white curly hair, wearing a dark coat with decorative buttons and a white shirt, holding sheet music in his hands, looking directly at the viewer.

Music: Bach

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A black-and-white portrait of an 18th-century man with white, curly shoulder-length hair, wearing formal clothing with a high-collared shirt and a richly textured coat, posed in front of draped fabric.

Music: Handel

A man in historical clothing with white hair, holding a book, stands in front of a background featuring sheet music.

Music: Haydn

A classical portrait painting of a man with powdered white hair in a formal red coat, white ruffled shirt, and a white bow; he has a serious expression and faces slightly to the viewer’s left.

Music: Mozart

A group of five men in 18th-century clothing sit and stand around a table in a library, looking at a document together, with shelves of books in the background.

Culture: Philosophy

A historical mural showing a line of men and one woman in 18th-century Scottish attire, including kilts and wigs, with names written above their heads against a gold background.

Culture: The Philosophes

A satirical drawing of two clergymen, one wearing a gold miter, riding on the back of a man dressed in blue and holding papers, symbolizing religious or political burden and criticism.

Philosophy: Old Regime

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Bronze sculpture of a seated man resting his chin on one hand, appearing deep in thought; background features additional sculpted figures in relief.

Philosophy: Faith or Reason?

Two hands, one reaching from the left and the other from the right, with fingers nearly touching against a light, cracked background. The image evokes a sense of connection and creation.

Philosophy: Age of Reason

A grand 18th-century room with high ceilings and large windows, filled with elegantly dressed people dining, conversing, and playing music; ornate décor and paintings adorn the walls.

Culture: Philosophy: English and Dutch Phases

A group of people, including children, gather around an illuminated orrery (a mechanical model of the solar system), watching intently as an older man explains its workings. Warm lighting casts dramatic shadows.

Philosophy: Radical Enlightenment

A group of men in 18th-century clothing sit around a table in a richly decorated room, engaged in animated conversation, while several onlookers stand nearby and a servant enters from the left.

Philosophy: Later Enlightenment

Black and white illustration of a man in profile with curled white hair, wearing a formal coat and cravat, gazing to the right. The style suggests a historical figure from the 18th century.

Philosophy: Adam Smith

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A bearded man in old-fashioned clothing sits, leaning over a table with maps or drawings, holding a pair of compasses. A helmet with a sword rests beside him. The image is in black and white.

Philosophy: Physiocrats

A busy 17th-century coffee house scene with men in wigs and coats sitting at tables, drinking and talking. A server brings drinks from a counter near a large fireplace. Paintings and windows decorate the walls.

Culture: Popular Culture

A bearded man in dark clothing and a black hat sits at a table, holding a piece of paper and counting coins. An open book or ledger and more coins are on the table. The background is dark and plain.

Culture: Scholarship

A group of people in 18th-century clothing observe the sky using telescopes and an armillary sphere in an outdoor setting with classical ruins and mountains in the background.

Culture: Science and Technology

Detailed anatomical illustration of a human head in profile, showing layers of muscles and skin partially cut away and cracked open, revealing facial structure and underlying tissues.

Science and Technology: Medicine

A historical painting shows a man in period clothing reading from a paper to a seated and standing group of people outdoors, surrounded by trees and a scenic landscape. The listeners appear attentive and engaged.

Religion

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A stern-looking man in 18th-century bishop’s robes sits in a red chair, holding a book and a hat, with a domed building visible through a window behind him.

Religion: Authority

A group of people in traditional clothing stand in a circle, raising their arms and appearing to dance or chant inside a wooden building. The scene is illustrated in black and white.

Religion: Sects

A large group of men in 18th-century clothing gather in an ornate room lined with paintings, sitting and standing as if engaged in discussion or debate. The setting appears formal and intellectual.

Power

Seven men in 18th-century clothing sit and stand around a table in a library, deeply engaged in discussion while examining a book, with shelves of books lining the background.

Power: Law

A vibrant outdoor scene shows a large crowd gathered around a raised stage in a wooded area, with performers on stage and people sitting, standing, and reclining in colorful 19th-century clothing.

Power: Reform

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Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing of a nude male figure with arms and legs outstretched, overlaid with circles and squares, illustrating ideal human body proportions.