Biography european enlightenment

You may be wondering, what was the ‘Enlightenment’ and when did the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ occur?

Put simply, the Enlightenment was a period in history, occuring roughly between the late-16th and 18th century, that completely transformed western culture.

The enlightenment summary

The ‘Age of Reason’, as it became known, saw long-established monarchies, religious institutions, social systems and hierachies challenged from below and a philosophical search for human improvement.

Ideas of liberty, reason and religious tolerance traversed Europe, creating social upheaval, revolution and change.

At the foundation of this transformation lay the ideas and practises of a few incredibly influential figures, who would each in their own way truly change the world and the way in which people viewed it.

Here is a list of 10 of these Key Figures of the Enlightenment.

1.

Francis Bacon (1561–1626)