age of enlightenment related people
For the intents of this article, we will begin the Enlightenment at the time of Newton’s publication of Principia (1687), and end it with the French Revolution of 1789, a time of social change in continental Europe, and a period when the Industrial Revolution of England had gathered momentum. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) One of the American Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an author, politician, diplomat, scientist and statesman. He was a key figure in the American enlightenment, which saw major breakthroughs in science and ideas of political republicanism. Famous People of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment or ‘Age of reason’ was a period in the late seventeenth century and early eighteenth century, where a group of philosophers, scientists and thinkers advocated new ideas based on reason. The Age of Enlightenment, a phrase coined by the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804), represents the change from antiquity to modernity, the period in history where the modern world began and science replaced superstition. The Enlightenment in North America. Commerce of Thought. The Age of American Enlightenment can be roughly dated as the half-century from 1765 to 1815.(Cassara, 25) Many key events happened and many key individuals existed before these years but the central events of the American Enlightenment occurred within these dates. Isaac Newton, peinted by Godfrey Kneller (Public Domain) It is extremely difficult to state exactly where the Age of Enlightenment began, because it blended into the Renaissance and varied from discipline to discipline, but many historians point to the Scientific Revolution of the 17 Century as the precursor. Locke's theories provided important influence on political thought, particularly on the ideas of Jefferson and Madison.(Curte et al., 83) Locke refuted the principle of absolute monarchy and viewed government as an agent of the state. The powers of the state are derived directly from the people. When Was the Age of Enlightenment? It is extremely difficult to state exactly where the Age of Enlightenment began, because it blended into the Renaissance and varied from discipline to discipline, but many historians point to the Scientific Revolution of the 17 Century as the precursor. Many of the great Enlightenment works and figures in America were concerned with American Independence and the development of a Republic. The human element in the history of the American Enlightenment is very important. Famous People of the Renaissance (1350s to 1650s) The Renaissance covers the flowering of art and culture in Europe. Famous Scientists – Scientists from Aristotle and Archimedes to Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin. Including scientists of the Enlightenment Period.
It was a period in the late seventeenth century and early eighteenth century, where a group of philosophers, scientists and thinkers advocated new ideas based on reason.