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Francis Bacon publishes Novum Organum
The first notable writing published expressing ideas of Enlightenment. -
Period: to
Enlightenment through Congress of Vienna
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Rene Descartes writes Meditations on First Philosophy
Descartes made significant contribution to the philosophy of rationalism and also made discoveries in analytical geometry, calculus and mathematics.. -
Isaac Newton's Principi Mathematica
Newtons studied mathematics, optics, physics and astronomy and published Principia Mathematica in which he explained the law of gravity and the Laws of Motion. -
John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding
John Locke emphasized the importance of the experience of the senses over speculation and that experience imprints knowledge. -
Begining of Enlightenment
1715-1789 a philosophical movement called the Age of Enlightenment spread across Europe. It used reason to challenge traditional thinking. -
Montesquieu published The Spirit of Laws
Montesquieu was a French Philosopher that believed power should be limited and proposed dividing the government into three branches for checks and balances. -
Jean-Jaques Rousseau published On the Social Contract
The Social Contract argued against the idea that monarchs were divinely empowered to legislate. Rousseau asserted that only the people, who are sovereign, have that all-powerful right. -
Enlightened Absolutism
Many absolute rulers embraced the Enlightenment movement with reforms. Examples include Fredrick II of Prussia who was religiously tolerant and improved his country's roads and bridges and Joseph II who granted peasants personal freedoms. -
Louis XVI Takes Reign
After Louis XV dies, Louis XVI restores all the parliaments and confirmed old powers. -
Adam Smith published the Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith published the Wealth of Nations in 1776 where he encouraged mercantilism, limiting the government's role and free trade. Smith is considered the founder of Capitalism. -
America's Independence
Across the Atlantic and with the help of French Allies, America declares it's Independence from Great Britain. -
Estates General
To ease the monetary woes of France, Louis XVI convened the Estates General to levy new taxes. This prompted the Third Estate to declare itself the National Assembly. Despite the King's attempts, the Assembly refused to disband until new constitution for France had been written. -
Storming the Bastille
Food shortages and animosity towards the King led around 1,000 armed people to storm the Bastille igniting the French Revolutionist's cause. -
The Great Fear
Amid rumors of aristocratic and royal conspiracies to overthrow the Third Estate, people panicked and rioted. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Passed by the National Assembly, the Declaration of the Rights of Man giving the promise of equal protection of natural rights and forcing nobles to give up privileges previously bestowed. -
The Bread March on Versailles
Poor women of Paris marched on Versailles because of high prices, bread shortages and word spreading that aristocrats and royalty were hoarding grain. -
Louis XVI is Executed
The Jacobin Club called for the execution of Louis XVI after he is convicted on treason by the National Convention. -
Coup D'etat
The Directory had no control over the country and citizens confidence was low when Napoleon came back from Egypt he removed many national legislatures and the rest voted to get rid of the Directory before creating three consuls, one of which was Napoleon. -
Emperor Napoleon
Napoleon makes an agreement with Pope Pious that would restore the power of the Church and after a vote, the people of France allowed Napoleon to write the constitution and become Emperor as Napoleon assured them, it was the only way for them to be safe. -
Congress of Vienna
After Napoleon's defeat the four Great Powers invited the other European countries to a peace conference, a peace that was maintained for the next 40 years until the Crimean War.
