French Enlightenment

Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects.

The editors of the Encyclopaedia Britannica are pleased to present The French Revolution Series. Here you will learn about the grandeur and opulence of the French régime, as well as its chaotic downfall and the new order that rose from its ashes. In this edition, the editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica examine France in the Age of Enlightenment, leading up to the causes of the French Revolution.

French philosophy has been led on by three most influent thinkers, each one bordering on literature and bringing new understandings to politics, philosophy, and religion. Michel de Montaigne is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre; his style merges casual anecdotes and autobiography with deep intellectual insights. His "Essays" are among the most influential ever written; one can recognize Montaigne's direct influence on great literary figures all over the world.