| 1685 |
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; persecution of Protestants in France |
| 1687 |
Publication of Newton's Principia |
| 1688-1689 |
Revolution in England: the clergy's power is weakened and censorship loosened |
| 1690 |
Publication of Locke's Two Treatises of Government |
| 1695 |
Publication of Locke's Reasonableness of Christianity |
| 1696 |
Toland's Christianity Not Mysterious makes the case for deism |
| 1717 |
Founding of the Grand Lodge, London; the beginning of organized Freemasonry |
| 1733 |
Voltaire publishes Letters Concerning the English Nation |
| 1740 |
Frederick the Great invades Silesia; the War of the Austrian Succession ensues |
| 1748 |
Hume publishes An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding; Montesquieu publishes The Spirit of the Laws |
| 1751 |
Publication of Diderot's Encyclopedia in Paris |
| 1756-1763 |
Seven Years' War |
| 1762 |
Rousseau publishes Émile and The Social Contract |
| 1775 |
American Revolution begins |
| 1776 |
Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations |
| 1785 |
Russian Charter of Nobility; the servitude of the peasants is guaranteed |
| 1787 |
Dutch Revolution begins |
| 1789 |
French Revolution begins |
