The Age of Enlightenment, sometimes called the Age of Reason, is a period in which religious enlightenment and political freedom flourished in Europe. The Enlightenment incorporated a variety of ideas that focused on Reason as the basis of legitimacy and authority of the society and argued for philosophies including individual rights as well as political freedom, the separation of religion and state as well as women's rights as individuals, and freedom from rulers and authority. tonsilparchitect Sir William Bentham, Thomas Jefferson and many other renowned figures of the enlightenment are two of the first enlightenment thinkers. Other thinkers included Sir Alfred lead, papalism and Utilitarians; Sir Robert induction; Dr. Samuel Bailey; and Dr. Jeremy Bentham.

The Age of Enlightenment valued individual and social responsibility and saw each person as an individual with a purpose not a means. It did not believe in being tied to any political institution and instead stressed the importance of each individual. By the time the era ended, religion had largely disappeared because people didn't view religion as a means to solve problems or improve their lives. Instead, the enlightenment focused on social interactions, debating and discussing important issues, and attempting to understand the world around them. Religion was viewed as a part of life, and it was a way to educate and inform the masses about evil and ignorance.

The Age of Enlightenment also saw major advancements in architecture. Architecture saw great advances due to the technological skills and inventions of this age. The architectural art of the day included designs as the dome and the pyramidal column, the arched colonnade and the dome-spaced house. The focus on efficiency and practicality was prevalent in architecture. It also sought to create cities that were free from harmful air pollutants and dangerous climate changes.

The Age of Enlightenment also ushered into the art of the day. The educated middle class encouraged and admired painting and drawing. In fact, it was a profession for many. Sculpture also emerged as an art form that was visually stunning. Masterpieces like Rembrandt created stunning works that resonate with us to this day. The French Revolution also sparked a rise in interest in sculpture, especially with the rise of the Terrorists of the time.


In the Age of Enlightenment, education was also more valuable. Education offered people the chance to challenge authority and to discover truth. At the same time it provided a wide range of learning opportunities that were accessible to everyone. These advancements in education helped create modern man. Modern man can now critically think about himself and challenge the assumptions and biases of other people.

Writing also was more popular in the age of the enlightenment. In fact the best writers of the present are people who have studied and practiced the art of essay writing. The importance of argument and polemics in literature is at the heart of the discipline of debate. Renaissance philosophers like Aristotle and Plato debated on issues such as ethics, human nature and politics. These discussions eventually spanned many pages. In the end, some of the most influential works that were written on the basis of these issues have been written on marble tablets.

Poetry also played a significant part in the Age of Enlightenment. Famous poets like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Alfred Lord Tennyson addressed the injustices of society. They wrote beautiful and inspirational lines. Ultimately, these great poets provided the inspiration for the next generation of writers.

Many of the greatest writers and artists of the past are also part of the Age of Enlightenment. Painting, music, literature, dance, photography, architecture... The influence of the Age of Enlightenment is evident all over the globe. It is also evident in the way that a lot of our modern conveniences and luxuries are either influenced by or based on the work of the Age of Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment had a profound impact on the direction of Western civilization starting with Thomas Jefferson's declaration of independence to Benjamin Franklin’s quote "I must shake off the dust from time to time",