What Are Some Interesting Facts About the Enlightenment Period?
Some interesting facts about the Enlightenment period are that it was caused by the Thirty Years’ War and that the Enlightenment period began in 1648. Some of the first people to take the plunge into Enlightenment were authors John Comenius and Hugo Grotius.
During the Enlightenment period, thought processes revolved more around science and less around religion. This period in time brought out the most intelligent people and small changes led to larger ones. The Enlightenment period began in France and did not take long to spread throughout the rest of Europe.
The Enlightenment saw increased hostility toward many established religions. The “thinkers” of that time thought religion was a way to control and oppress populations and they criticized anyone who was affiliated with religions, such as Christianity and Paganism.
Science replaced religion, at least to some. Science was promoted and many scientific discoveries were made during the Enlightenment. The 17th century saw the development of physics and modern astronomy, although these scientific discoveries further divided those who believed in religion and those who did not.
The Enlightenment period was the beginning of imaginative literature. Plays, poems and fiction gave authors a way to express their enlightened beliefs. “Die Zauberflote,” “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Candide were published during this time and changed literature forever.
