Enlightenment
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, a scientific revolution occurred which gave humankind a much better understanding of the universe and its functioning than ever before. One of those scientists was Isaac Newton, who, in addition to his work with gravitational laws, also developed principles of light and refraction. From this revolution in science came an intellectual and cultural movement who's name came from a metaphor based in Newton's experiments with light. Called the "Enlightenment," this movement worshipped the practical and marveled in the applied, and changed not only Europe, but the entire world. The Enlightenment took principles learned through scientific observation and study, and applied them to everyday life including such things as medicine, politics, nature, religion, literature, and others. The application of these principles in the real world gave rise to the modern world and its notions of democracy, economics, religion, international affairs, and almost every other aspect of modern life.
The term "Enlightenment" refered to the illumination of the mind through knowledge and understanding. In this metaphor, ignorance equated with darkness while knowledge and understanding are compared to light. When the darkness is removed by the light, one can see and understand more about the universe that surrounds them. Light is what removes the darkness and allows...
Works Cited Baumgarten, Linda. (2002). What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Bilhartz, Terry D., and Elliott, Alan C. (2007). Currents in American History: A Brief History of the United States, Volume 1. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. Crunden, Robert Morse. (1996). A Brief History of American Culture. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. Fisher, John Hurt. (2001). "British and American, Continuity and Divergence"
Progress During the Enlightenment The notion of progress is as evolving as the modern society we deem progressive. While some view progress in terms of science and technology, others view progress in terms of government, social equality, economic stability, spirituality and moral sensitivity. In terms of technology, our current society is more technologically advanced than ever before. We can pick up a telephone and speak to loved ones in other cities,
In Spain, the work of Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez expressed the style of baroque art in works of oil on canvas painted by Velazquez during the period. Vermeer and Velazquez are associated with what is described as "third phase," in baroque, also referred to as the "classicistic phase." The work of Velazquez is of interest when considering the feminist perspective, because it is his work where we find
Tartuffe In the play, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere narrates the story of how a scoundrel and a hypocrite disguises himself as a pious man of religion. By affecting religious behavior, Tartuffe charms his way into the house and the favors of Orgon, a local rich man. Orgon is unfortunately unable to see through Tartuffe's duplicity, and in the process almost loses all his possessions to the scoundrel Tartuffe. Only the fortuitous intervention
" Ibid. Byrd's work also predated the Lewis and Clarke journals in his information on the natural history of the area. In fact, he wrote about the Native American tribes and the flora and fauna, much still unknown at the time. This, too, was part of the Enlightenment though, a rather Lockean concept of using one's knowledge to both understand and interpret the universe. By attempting definition, Byrd was following the
History of the Violin The violin is one of the oldest and most respected instruments that exists today, often considered the centerpiece of the orchestral musical ensemble. The violin is not simply an instrument complex in nature, but also a work of art. Depending on who you consult with, the violin might be considered one, the other or both. The violin is widely appreciated for the complex sound and it produces
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now