The Age of Enlightenment brought along with it revolutionary reforms that influenced almost all aspects of human existence. It gave rise to many inventive ways in education, politics, economics, culture, and arts. It was in the Enlightenment era that the likes of Adam Smith, Sir Isaac Newton, Voltaire, and Johann Sebastian Bach emerged. The movement that began in France swept the entire European continent in the 18th century.
The Enlightenment set a new tone in how the world is generally perceived and how life is essentially valued. Its primary belief was that reason is the basis for all understanding. It presented alternative views to the prevailing principles set by religion and aristocracy. And it was this age that significantly gave rise to the values of freedom and democracy.
With the Age of Enlightenment came many new philosophies. Such philosophies continue to have great effect in the world today. During the Enlightenment big strides were taken in reforming traditional ways. Science and reason outclassed religion and superstition. It is not to say that the Enlightenment was a rebelling against spirituality. In fact, Enlightened thinkers valued their belief in God. However, they also acknowledged that God gave man rational thought and it is mans duty to make use of this to view life.
From the acceptance of man as a rational being, very capable of making his or her own choice freely came one of the most radical teachings of those times equal opportunity. The principle of equal opportunity opened great possibilities for growth and progress. It became the basis of many of the various changes that occurred in areas like education, politics and economics. And many of the changes that occurred during those times remain fundamentally ingrained in how the world works today.
One of the areas most influenced by equal opportunity is education. The Enlightenment produced a hunger for knowledge among people. Enrolment significantly increased all over Europe in a very rapid pace. With the emergence of the Age of Enlightenment, education was made available to more people. It was no longer only for the elite of society. This was one of the strongest evidences of equal opportunity at play during those times.
Prior to the Enlightenment education was only accorded to a select few of society. Europe was led by standards of aristocracy. All opportunity was given only to the rich and influential. Things changed dramatically during the 18th century. Education was opened to all social classes and statuses. It had a very strong impact on literacy around Europe. It also helped increase progress and development.
The most significant education reform that came with the Enlightenment involved the rights of women to be formally schooled. Traditional practice only allowed very little opportunities for women to learn. One of the most ardent supporters of equal rights for women was Catherine the Great, as discussed in The Enlightenment of Europe How It Greatly Influences Us Today. Catherine the Great led Russia into immense political and economic dominance during her reign. Her list of accomplishments included the pioneering government system that advanced Russia tremendously. However Catherine the Greats was dedicated to fighting for womens rights. She decreed that women be given the opportunity to be formally schooled. Hence, schools for women began sprouting all over Russia.
The move took momentum and inspired a similar development in France. It was initiated by another main figure of the Enlightenment, Marie Therese Rodet Geoffrin. Her salon became a famous place for a free exchange of ideas between men and women. Subsequently the women who participated were informally educated in various subjects, including politics, and business.
In early Europe, subjects like politics and business were deemed men subjects. Women were not expected to know about them, let alone discuss them publicly. Geoffrins salons not only changed all that, it inspired a new insight into the womens capacity to level with men in this subjects.
The Enlightenment period essentially transformed the womans role in society. Some Enlightened thinkers still believed that a womans role is mostly in the home and family. However many others advocated respect for women as equals. Education became the strongest tool for women to further their rights in society. It was also because of education that during the years of Enlightenment, numerous writings by women were published. This development was unprecedented in early Europe. The Enlightenment opened new doors for women that were many years before considered unthinkable.
The Age of Enlightenment promoted freedom, democracy, reason, and humanity. With these values came the principle of equal opportunity. Equal opportunity led to a revolutionary change in how people perceived one another. Many sects benefited from this. The line between social classes decreased in areas of education, politics, business, culture, and the arts. Slavery was essentially abolished. The differences between genders started to blur. And women finally gained strides in evolving as significant members of society. They can no longer be denied as equals of men.
The changes that came with the Enlightenment continue to impact the world today. Freedom and democracy, two of the most important standards of the Enlightenment, are the most valued characteristics of nations. The effects of these values are majorly felt in the fields of education, politics, business, culture, and the arts.
It is no revelation that the Age of Enlightenment is the cornerstone of many of the liberties the world experiences today. But among them it is the liberty gained by women that seems to have shaped the world more and continue to develop with the times.
The Enlightenment set a new tone in how the world is generally perceived and how life is essentially valued. Its primary belief was that reason is the basis for all understanding. It presented alternative views to the prevailing principles set by religion and aristocracy. And it was this age that significantly gave rise to the values of freedom and democracy.
With the Age of Enlightenment came many new philosophies. Such philosophies continue to have great effect in the world today. During the Enlightenment big strides were taken in reforming traditional ways. Science and reason outclassed religion and superstition. It is not to say that the Enlightenment was a rebelling against spirituality. In fact, Enlightened thinkers valued their belief in God. However, they also acknowledged that God gave man rational thought and it is mans duty to make use of this to view life.
From the acceptance of man as a rational being, very capable of making his or her own choice freely came one of the most radical teachings of those times equal opportunity. The principle of equal opportunity opened great possibilities for growth and progress. It became the basis of many of the various changes that occurred in areas like education, politics and economics. And many of the changes that occurred during those times remain fundamentally ingrained in how the world works today.
One of the areas most influenced by equal opportunity is education. The Enlightenment produced a hunger for knowledge among people. Enrolment significantly increased all over Europe in a very rapid pace. With the emergence of the Age of Enlightenment, education was made available to more people. It was no longer only for the elite of society. This was one of the strongest evidences of equal opportunity at play during those times.
Prior to the Enlightenment education was only accorded to a select few of society. Europe was led by standards of aristocracy. All opportunity was given only to the rich and influential. Things changed dramatically during the 18th century. Education was opened to all social classes and statuses. It had a very strong impact on literacy around Europe. It also helped increase progress and development.
The most significant education reform that came with the Enlightenment involved the rights of women to be formally schooled. Traditional practice only allowed very little opportunities for women to learn. One of the most ardent supporters of equal rights for women was Catherine the Great, as discussed in The Enlightenment of Europe How It Greatly Influences Us Today. Catherine the Great led Russia into immense political and economic dominance during her reign. Her list of accomplishments included the pioneering government system that advanced Russia tremendously. However Catherine the Greats was dedicated to fighting for womens rights. She decreed that women be given the opportunity to be formally schooled. Hence, schools for women began sprouting all over Russia.
The move took momentum and inspired a similar development in France. It was initiated by another main figure of the Enlightenment, Marie Therese Rodet Geoffrin. Her salon became a famous place for a free exchange of ideas between men and women. Subsequently the women who participated were informally educated in various subjects, including politics, and business.
In early Europe, subjects like politics and business were deemed men subjects. Women were not expected to know about them, let alone discuss them publicly. Geoffrins salons not only changed all that, it inspired a new insight into the womens capacity to level with men in this subjects.
The Enlightenment period essentially transformed the womans role in society. Some Enlightened thinkers still believed that a womans role is mostly in the home and family. However many others advocated respect for women as equals. Education became the strongest tool for women to further their rights in society. It was also because of education that during the years of Enlightenment, numerous writings by women were published. This development was unprecedented in early Europe. The Enlightenment opened new doors for women that were many years before considered unthinkable.
The Age of Enlightenment promoted freedom, democracy, reason, and humanity. With these values came the principle of equal opportunity. Equal opportunity led to a revolutionary change in how people perceived one another. Many sects benefited from this. The line between social classes decreased in areas of education, politics, business, culture, and the arts. Slavery was essentially abolished. The differences between genders started to blur. And women finally gained strides in evolving as significant members of society. They can no longer be denied as equals of men.
The changes that came with the Enlightenment continue to impact the world today. Freedom and democracy, two of the most important standards of the Enlightenment, are the most valued characteristics of nations. The effects of these values are majorly felt in the fields of education, politics, business, culture, and the arts.
It is no revelation that the Age of Enlightenment is the cornerstone of many of the liberties the world experiences today. But among them it is the liberty gained by women that seems to have shaped the world more and continue to develop with the times.
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