Visual Timeline: The Enlightenment

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

1600 CE 1610 CE 1620 CE 1630 CE 1640 CE 1650 CE 1660 CE 1670 CE 1680 CE 1690 CE 1700 CE 1710 CE 1720 CE 1730 CE 1740 CE 1750 CE 1760 CE 1770 CE 1780 CE 1790 CE 1800 CE 1810 CE 1820 CE 1830 CE  
 
1605 CE: Francis Bacon publishes The Advancement of Learning, the first in a series of works expounding his scientific method.
 
1620 CE: Francis Bacon publishes Novum Organum, outlining the fundamentals of his scientific method.
 
1623 CE: Francis Bacon publishes his De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum, which further outlines his new scientific method.
 
1626 CE: New Atlantis by Francis Bacon is published. It describes a utopian state where Bacon's scientific method is employed.
 
1637 CE: Philosopher René Descartes writes his Discourse on the Method.
 
1641 CE: Philosopher René Descartes writes his Meditations, a discussion of his Cartesian theory and God's existence.
 
1644 CE: Philosopher René Descartes writes his Principles of Philosophy, an examination of the relationship between the body and soul.
 
1651 CE: Thomas Hobbes publishes his Leviathan.
 
1677 CE: Ethics by Baruch Spinoza is published.
 
1686 CE: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz publishes his Discourse of Metaphysics.
 
1687 CE: Isaac Newton publishes his laws of motion and universal law of gravity in Principia.
 
1689 CE: John Locke publishes his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Two Treatises on Government, and Letters on Toleration.
 
1710 CE: George Berkeley publishes A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge.
 
1713 CE: George Berkeley publishes Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous.
 
 
1721 CE: Montesquieu publishes his Lettres persanes (Persian Letters).
 
1726 CE: Francis Hutcheson coins the term "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" in his Inquiry Concerning Moral Good and Evil.
 
1734 CE: Voltaire publishes his Letters on England.
 
1740 CE: David Hume publishes his A Treatise of Human Nature.
 
1748 CE: David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.
 
 
1748 CE: Montesquieu publishes his The Spirit of the Laws where he outlines his separation of powers.
 
1750 CE: Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his First Discourse.
 
 
1751 CE: The monumental Encyclopedia, edited by Denis Diderot, is published.
 
1751 CE: David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
 
 
1751 CE: The Catholic Church adds Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws to the Index of Forbidden Books.
 
1755 CE: Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his Second Discourse.
 
1756 CE: Voltaire publishes his Essay on the Manners and Spirit of Nations.
 
1757 CE: David Hume publishes his Dissertation on the Passions.
 
1759 CE: Voltaire publishes his Candide.
 
1759 CE: Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published.
 
1759 CE - 1797 CE: Life of the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.
 
1762 CE: Voltaire publishes his Treatise on Tolerance.
 
1762 CE: Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes The Social Contract.
 
1762 CE: Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his treatise on education Émile.
 
1764 CE: Voltaire publishes his Philosophical Dictionary.
 
1766 CE: Voltaire publishes his Ignorant Philosopher.
 
 
1773 CE - 1774 CE: Denis Diderot spends five months advising Catherine the Great.
 
 
1776 CE: Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is published.
 
 
1776 CE - 1788 CE: Edward Gibbon publishes his The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
 
1781 CE: Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Pure Reason.
 
1788 CE: Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Practical Reason.
 
1789 CE: Jeremy Bentham publishes his thoughts on utilitarianism in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
 
 
1790 CE: Edmund Burke publishes his Reflections on the Revolution in France.
 
 
1791 CE: Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 1.
 
1792 CE: Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is published.
 
 
1792 CE: Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 2.
 
1794 CE: Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 1.
 
1795 CE: Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 2.
 
1796 CE: Thomas Paine publishes his Agrarian Justice.
 
1821 CE: Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot is first published.
 
1830 CE: D’Alembert’s Dream by Denis Diderot is first published.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1600 CE 1640 CE 1680 CE 1720 CE 1760 CE 1800 CE