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The first notable writing published expressing ideas of Enlightenment.
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Descartes made significant contribution to the philosophy of rationalism and also made discoveries in analytical geometry, calculus and mathematics..
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Newtons studied mathematics, optics, physics and astronomy and published Principia Mathematica in which he explained the law of gravity and the Laws of Motion.
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John Locke emphasized the importance of the experience of the senses over speculation and that experience imprints knowledge.
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1715-1789 a philosophical movement called the Age of Enlightenment spread across Europe. It used reason to challenge traditional thinking.
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Montesquieu was a French Philosopher that believed power should be limited and proposed dividing the government into three branches for checks and balances.
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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.
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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.
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After Louis XV dies, Louis XVI restores all the parliaments and confirmed old powers.
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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.
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Across the Atlantic and with the help of French Allies, America declares it's Independence from Great Britain.
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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.
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Food shortages and animosity towards the King led around 1,000 armed people to storm the Bastille igniting the French Revolutionist's cause.
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Amid rumors of aristocratic and royal conspiracies to overthrow the Third Estate, people panicked and rioted.
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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.
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Poor women of Paris marched on Versailles because of high prices, bread shortages and word spreading that aristocrats and royalty were hoarding grain.
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The Jacobin Club called for the execution of Louis XVI after he is convicted on treason by the National Convention.
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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.
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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.
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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.
