Unit 2 Timeline: Enlightenment and Revolutions

  • Period: 1543 to

    Scientific Revolution

    A new way of thinking about the natural world, which influenced the development of the Enlightenment values of individualism because it demonstrated the power of the human mind.
  • Galileo Galilei supports the heliocentric theory

    Galileo Galilei is important figures of the Scientific Revolution, who published a book that stated the heliocentric theory of Copernicus was correct.
  • Period: to

    English Civil War

    English Civil War caused people to question the role of government, which sparked the imagination of Enlightenment thinkers.
  • Hobbes’s Leviathan is published

    Leviathan is Hobbes's most important work, which is most influential philosophical texts produced during the seventeenth century, was written partly as a response English Civil Wars.
  • Glorious Revolution

    The Glorious Revolution permanently established Parliament as the ruling power of England, which representing a shift from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
  • Locke’s Two Treatises on Government is published

    In Two Treatises, Locke developed his theory of ideas and his account of the origins of human knowledge in experience.
  • Period: to

    Enlightenment

    Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, in France and throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change through rational change.
  • Diderot Publishes First Volumes of Encyclopedia

    The Encyclopedie is most famous for representing the thought of the Enlightenment. The Encyclopedie's aim was "to change the way people think" and for people to be able to inform themselves and to know things.
  • Period: to

    American Revolution

    An ideological and political revolution. The American Revolution created with the help of the Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and justice.
  • Period: to

    Louis XVI’s reign

    An example of an absolute ruler-complete power, Louis XVI was a weak Leaders, not concerned with politics.
  • Lexington and Concord

    The Battles of Lexington and Concord signaled the start of the American Revolutionary war.
  • Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence reflects to a great extent on the values of the Enlightenment. All people were equal in a natural state and independent, everyone had a natural right to defend “life, liberty, health, or possessions.
  • Tennis Court Oath

    Tennis Court Oath showed the growing unrest against Louis XVI and laid the foundation for later events, including: the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the storming of the Bastille.
  • National Assembly is formed in France

    The National Assembly played a major role in the French Revolution. It represented the third estate of France and demanded that the king make economic reforms to insure that the people had food to eat.
  • Declaration of Rights of Man

    Nation Assessment mainly members states man is born with free and equal rights, man should enjoy natural and inalienable rights, no one can take their rights, which connect with the Enlightenment idea: Natural rights.
  • Legislative Assembly is formed in France

    Legislative Assembly replaced the National Constituent Assembly, which faced the threat of war from other European nations and had to deal with lingering economic issues.
  • Bill of Rights signed

    Bill of Rights protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion, which connect with the Enlightenment idea: Natural rights.
  • Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women is published

    Which protect women's rights, and states that if girls were allowed the same advantages as boys, women would be not only exceptional wives and mothers but also capable workers.(Enlightenment: Natural rights)
  • Execution of Louis XVI

    This was the major result of French Revolution, it marked the end of ancient regime that was tyrannic and insensitive towards the French people.
  • Period: to

    Reign of Terror

    The reign of terror was the bloodiest time in the revolution. Led by Robespierre, people were executed from sunrise to sunset, and it ends when Robespierre himself gets executed.
  • Execution of Marie Antoinette

    Marie Antoinette was put on trial for treason and theft, dragged to the guillotine and executed.
  • Napoleon’s coup

    This event overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte. The event is often viewed as the effective end of the French Revolution.