The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment happened mostly in the 1700s. It is also called the Age of Reason. People started to think in new ways about the world. They talked about freedom, rights, and fairness. Their ideas helped change many countries.

Big New Ideas

Thinkers said all people should have rights. They said kings should not have all the power. They believed we can use our minds to solve problems. They wrote books that many people read. Some of these books were even banned by kings.

A portrait of Francis Bacon, an important Enlightenment thinker.
A portrait of Francis Bacon, an important Enlightenment thinker. (Paul van Somer I / Formerly attributed to Frans Pourbus the Younger / Wikimedia Commons)

Famous Thinkers

John Locke wrote about life, freedom, and owning things. Voltaire wrote funny stories that made fun of unfair rulers. Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote about fairness for all people. Their ideas helped start the American and French Revolutions. Many laws today come from their thoughts.

Fun Facts

  • The U.S. Declaration of Independence was inspired by Enlightenment ideas.
  • Many thinkers met in cafes to share ideas over coffee.
  • A giant book called the 'Encyclopedie' tried to hold all human knowledge.

Did You Know?

Benjamin Franklin is often called an Enlightenment thinker and scientist.