The Englightenment Thinkers
This guide provides helpful resources to support the "Enlightenment Group Chat" Assignment for Ms. Villeneuve's Social Studies 9 class. If you have any questions, suggestions to improve this page, or encounter issues with the links, please email [email protected].
This page was last updated 11/20/2025
Resources
What was the Age of Enlightenment? (Video)
Learn more the about the Age of Enlightenment, including Votaire and the enlightened religion called Deism. Included are two review questions and a transcript for the video.
The Lost Women of Enlightenment Science
This article traces the contributions of women to science and thought in the Age of Reason.
Women of the Enlightenment
Website on the contributions of Maria Sibylla Merian, Émilie du Châtelet, and Laura Bassi to the enlightenment movement.
How the Enlightenment Worked
Section titled “Starting with a Clean Slate: The Enlightenment Begins” contains information on the Enlightenment thinkers, including their embrace of Deism, instead of Catholicism or Protestantism, to accept the idea of creation without ongoing faith.
The Enlightenment, Explained (Video)
Video from AP European history that provides an overview of the Enlightenment, including the impact on politics, economics, and relation.
Biography.com
This website contains excellent articles on different Enlightenment thinkers:
Philosophe - The Enlightenment Thinkers [Library Guide]
Excellent library guide from the Inter Community School in Zurich, Switzerland.
Student Resources contain access to World Book Advanced and World Book Discover, which is more accessible. These databases contain excellent information on Enlightenment thinkers and concepts. Students do not need to log-in if accessing from the school, and log-in information can be provided if they would like to access it from home.
Learn more the about the Age of Enlightenment, including Votaire and the enlightened religion called Deism. Included are two review questions and a transcript for the video.
The Lost Women of Enlightenment Science
This article traces the contributions of women to science and thought in the Age of Reason.
Women of the Enlightenment
Website on the contributions of Maria Sibylla Merian, Émilie du Châtelet, and Laura Bassi to the enlightenment movement.
How the Enlightenment Worked
Section titled “Starting with a Clean Slate: The Enlightenment Begins” contains information on the Enlightenment thinkers, including their embrace of Deism, instead of Catholicism or Protestantism, to accept the idea of creation without ongoing faith.
The Enlightenment, Explained (Video)
Video from AP European history that provides an overview of the Enlightenment, including the impact on politics, economics, and relation.
Biography.com
This website contains excellent articles on different Enlightenment thinkers:
- John Locke: Biography, English Philosopher, Empiricism
- Voltaire: Biography, Enlightenment Writer, ‘Candide’ Author
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Biography, Swiss Philosopher, Works
- Charles-Louis de Secondat: Biography, French Philosopher
- Thomas Hobbes: Biography, English Philosopher, Social Contract
- Cesare Beccaria: Biography, Criminologist, Economist
- Immanuel Kant: Biography, Philosopher, Critique of Pure Reason
Philosophe - The Enlightenment Thinkers [Library Guide]
Excellent library guide from the Inter Community School in Zurich, Switzerland.
Student Resources contain access to World Book Advanced and World Book Discover, which is more accessible. These databases contain excellent information on Enlightenment thinkers and concepts. Students do not need to log-in if accessing from the school, and log-in information can be provided if they would like to access it from home.
