There was a point, in history, when reason replaced faith, greed replaced sustenance, and when theory replaced God. This period was a time of outbursts, cries for change, and new developments. This period was the beginning of a revolution still occurring today. This period was The Enlightenment. The Enlightenment changed the minds of the wealthy, those who could afford change, but eventually it spread to the common man as well. Religion was questioned as the main power, while economy flourished with new trade and new principals. Ideas of rights and liberties developed and the true “New World” was discovered. This was our world. The enlightenment period marks a significant change in the basic foundations of human society at religious, philosophical, and economical levels.
Foremost, The Enlightenment greatly change the role of religion in our society. As the rule of the papacy bred distaste and perceived corruption, ideas of supremacy of the church began to dissolve. Some, such as Voltaire, critiqued the church’s methods through literature. Others publically denounced Catholicism in pursuit of what is now referred to as Protestantism. Books of knowledge, such as Chambers
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Throughout the Enlightenment there is a burst of economical importance in the role of nations. The formation of industry propelled a new age. Some nations, such as Russia, maintained monarchy through industry. Others propelled further change by establishing commerce centers and relying heavily on travel and exploration. The East India Company and the Dutch East India Company now played as big a role in conflicts as any battalion or weapon. Scores were settled less with the sword, and more with the checkbook. This created a growing sense of life among the lower classes (Damrosch). For once, the possibility of change was within