The phenomenon of Enlightenment is widely known among the scholars of history. The period between 1685 and 1815, referred to as the Age of Enlightenment, has hugely impacted various European countries’ economic and academic growth (Outram, 2019). The Enlightenment had an exceptional influence on both the french population and the Industrial Revolution, increasing the amount of knowledge available to the public and furthering this age’s technological advancements. In this work, the critical connections between the phenomenon discussed and French people’s academic achievements will be discussed, and its relation to the Industrial Revolution will be examined.
The age of Enlightenment has incredibly affected the traditional ways of thinking in France. During these years, many philosophers and men of science started to question various notions that existed in society. For example, the works of French writers, such as Saint-Pierre, drastically changed the subjects of law, philosophy, and moral psychology (Keohane, 2017). All of the works presented by various scholars have undoubtedly influenced the country’s public, both nobles and peasants, creating differences of opinion regarding the themes of life and monarchy (Keohane, 2017). Altogether, the writings produced by the French researchers have changed the aspects of governmental power and personal knowledge.
The connection between Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution is essential to consider. Various developments, such as the construction of steam power machines and the invention of electricity, became possible due to the knowledge yielded during the ages of Enlightenment (Allen, 2017). Furthermore, the connections established in this period allowed for the better transportation of goods and services between Europe and other countries, shaping the origins of the industrial revolutions that transpired in the later centuries (Allen, 2017). The scientific knowledge presented by the scholars had greatly impacted the fields of economics and technology, supplying these areas with a possibility of advancement.
To conclude, the results of the Enlightenment are evident in various fields, starting from the changes to the French government laws to the technological advancements in other states. The writings produced by philosophers, lawyers, and psychologists of that time have greatly contributed to the availability of knowledge to the general public. Furthermore, the new data strongly impacted the area of engineering, promoting the assembly of powerful tools and devices.
References
Allen, R. C. (2017). The industrial revolution: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
Keohane, N. O. (2017). Philosophy and the state in France: The Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Princeton University Press.
Outram, D. (2019). The Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.