What was the impact of the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was a period of philisophical thought and intelectual exploration which sought to advance society using science and reason. Starting in the late 17th century, this movement stood in stark contrast to the recent dark ages which had left most of Europe under the influence of Catholic tradition and monarchical rule. The morality of these institutions was called into question as people began to explore the physical world over the spiritual, and the common man over the wealthy. This major change impacted Europe and the world in a variety of ways, leading to philisophical, social and scientific revolutions. Philosophically, people began to focus on freedom and the rights of men, understanding his destructive and greedy tendencies and searching for a purer alternative. It also saw the bounds of religion and caused many to question its authority within their lives and within society. Socially, enlightenment thinking led to the uprising of many groups which believed they were treated unjustly, including some of the colonies of the "New World" in the American revolution, the impoverished people of France in the French Revolution, and those who took issue with the behavior of the Catholic Church during the Protestant reformation and consequent reigious splintering. Scientifically, people began to explore the natural world around them with lessened fear of religious persecution, and with an increased fervor or knowledge. Concepts such as heliocentricsm, Gravity, and the scientific revolution all emerged and gained popularity due to this movement. 


The Age of Enlightenment saw the rise of a group of thinkers and philosophers who sought to understand and explain the external world through scientific methods and reason. These thinkers sought to contribute to social progress and to answer questions of morality and common concern through independent thought that did not rely on received tradition and dogma. The impact of this period can be observed in the following ways:
(1) In government, in ideas such as the separation of powers and the rights of personal liberty and public representation;
(2) In the development of empirically grounded scientific practices that replaced traditional Aristotelian ideas on the natural world;
(3) In economics, in ideas of free markets and trade. Adam Smith’s ideas, particularly, had a significant influence on the development of modern capitalism.
Many of the ideas developed during the Age of Enlightenment came to affect major historic events such as the French and American revolutions.

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