Research Project Richardson Jeb Britt 3/16/11

Thomas Paine : Said that it was the age of reason. Rachel Ruysch: Famous women artist. Edmund Burke : Famous writer during this time. David Hume : Religion actavist

The era in western philosophy, intellectual, scientific and cultural life, centered upon the 18 th century and was known as the “ Age Of Reason”.

New topics came upon during this era such as Social upheaval, reversal of personal status, political satire, geographical exploration and the comparison between the supposed natural state of man and the supposed civilized state of man.

The type of art work that were popular in this era were the barogue forms. Also the art work of the greek statues were brought back and became popular again. The painting style of rococo became popular as well. A popular artist of the rococo painting’s was Antoine Watteau

The age of enlightenment was a huge controversial era for science and religious beliefs. People began to question the church. Many famous enlightenment writers “questioned and attacked the existing institutions of both church and state” David Hume

Women painters finally started increasing during this era but they were so limited by tradition that it was hard for them to get real popular. A famous women painter during this time was Rachel Ruysch and she lived from (1664 – 1750). She also was a rococo painter and that’s how she got popular.

The age of enlightenment was a huge controversial era for science and religious beliefs. People began to question the church. Many famous enlightenment writers “questioned and attacked the existing institutions of both church and state” David Hume

“ The fabrick of superstition has in this our age and nation received much ruder and shocks than it had ever felt before; and throw the chinks and breaches of our prison, we see such glimmerings of light, and feel such refreshing airs of liberty, as daily raise our ardor for more.” - Edmund Burke.

The views of the enlightenment era writers and people went against the views of the church but these views expanded thinking and writing to a higher potential. They made it to were people didn’t just automatically think of something. They thought it threw and thought of different ways things could happen and which was the most likely and reasonable.

The social and cultural approach on this time changed due to the enlightenment era. Most of the changes occurred in Europe and the whole concept of the era was to change the way they thought of things and look at it a different way and that led to the society changing because they were all looking at it different.

Roger Chartier described it as “casting doubt on two different idea’s”. That’s what they overall did, they would combine two different idea’s to form one or they would doubt an idea and test it or try to prove it wrong.

Europe was known as a big part of the enlighenment period. It is also said that one of the main reason of social interpretation is the rise of the public sphere in Europe. That’s why Europe is known as one of the main places that the enlightenment period took place and started.

The 18 th century played a huge role in the enlightenment era mainly because that is when everything took place. All the social, literature, political, and religious events happened in this time for the enlightenment era. If it were to have been in a different century it could have been totally different.

The age of reason is the main term and slogan for the enlightenment era. It was called this because do to this era everyone questioned different things and came up with different reasons for everything, most of the time they tried to come up with a better answer for things to make it sound more reasonable.