Historical Dictionary of the Enlightenment (Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras)

the long version

"Historical Dictionary of the Enlightenment portrays this intellectual movement as playing a key role in the culture of Europe between 1687 and 1789. This dictionary covers the basic assumptions and values that structured the movement; how these ideas were articulated and the paths of communication the ideas followed; how key concepts developed and were refracted; and how new problems grew from solutions to older problems. Also offered is an introductory essay about the Enlightenment, providing an overview of the subject, period, influential characters, and paradigms of Enlightenment thought. A chronology charts the progression of the movement, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries cover the significant persons, places, events, institutions, and literary works of the era. A comprehensive bibliography, categorized by subject, complements this reference, which will be valued by scholars and students, as well as general readers."--Jacket.