History: (including “death of absolutism”)
Voyages of discovery and exploration. More global, and more cross-cultural exchange.
The slave trade.
Transformation of capital.
7 years war the first global war. (1756-63).
Rise of the middle class.

Political Philosophy:
For the first time, conflicts in England and France result in the questioning of royal power. Shakes the foundation somewhat. When reason then becomes the guiding light (instead of faith) the foundation is gone.
Religion still applies, but is aided by reason—“We believe them (the scriptures) but reason controls our interpretation of them.”
Philosophes believe that through reason humans can guide towards a more perfect world.
Rousseau led the way, and Kant followed, to the notion that “social inequality is unjustifiable, and grounded only in unreasoned prejudice.”

Reason, Science, Knowledge:
Encyclopedia project to systematize knowledge, make “what could be known” available to all. “The unification of knowledge centered around humankind rather than god.
The Academy system establishing a kind of control over the most learned men by their sponsers—the kings.
Culture (in literature, Satire) (Also, clash between the moderns and the ancients)

Literature: Shift in the direction because of an increasingly prosperous and literate bourgeoisie. Also more inexpensively produces books, journals, etc.
Neoclassical literature versus the modernites in France. Much more made of this battle in the Longmans.
SATIRE
THE TRAVEL NARRATIVE
RISE OF THE NOVEL

Society: (including, “the woman question”)
In the 17th and early 18th century, the sense of obligation to society had far more power than it possesses today. Public life mattered more than the private. Well defined codes of behavior. Writers like Voltaire might criticize the misuse of codes of behavior, but not the codes themselves, which if followed would result in a harmonious society.
Expressiveness to articulate the will of the community, not the eccentric ideas of the individual. The individual submits to the good of the group.

Nature. Shows the inherent order, the sensibility of things. A system or pattern is represented, showing the perfection of God’s creation. Human nature likewise.