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The 18th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1701 and ended on December 31, 1800, according to the Gregorian calendar. Historians, however, sometimes redefine the scope of the 18th century specifically for the purposes of their work. The "short" 18th century, for example, may be defined as 1715 - 1789, denoting the period of time between the death of Louis XIV of France and the start of the French Revolution, with an emphasis on directly interconnected events.[1] The "long" 18th century, on the other hand, may run from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 [1] or even later.[1]
2. Early part of the century: The beginning of the 18th century saw the Age of Enlightenment where Reason was advocated as the primary source and basis of authority, without resorting to religious belief. Developing in Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy, the movement spread through much of Europe, including Russia and Scandinavia. The intellectual and philosophical developments of the Age of Enlightenment and their impact in moral and social reform aspired towards governmental consolidation, centralization, and primacy of the nation-state, as well as greater rights for common people. There was also a strong attempt to supplant the authority of the aristocracy and established churches in social and political life. The signatories of the American Declaration of Independence (1776), the United States Bill of Rights (1791) and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) were motivated by "Enlightenment" principles (although the English Bill of Rights (1689) predates the era). Consequently, the Enlightenment of the 18th century is held to be the source of critical ideas, such as the centrality of freedom, democracy, and reason as primary values of society.
3. Later part of the century: The late 18th century saw the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. These changes subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually throughout the world, marking a major turning point in human society. The causes of the Industrial Revolution were complicated and remain a topic for debate, with some historians believing that the Revolution was an outgrowth of social and institutional changes brought by the end of feudalism in Britain after the 17th century English Civil War. The Enclosure movement and the British Agricultural Revolution made food production more efficient and less labour-intensive, forcing the surplus population who could no longer find employment in agriculture into cottage industries such as weaving and in the longer term, into the cities and the newly-developed factories.[1] The Industrial Revolution started with the mechanization of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Technological innovation was the heart of the Industrial Revolution, with the steam engine developed by James Watt at the turn of the 1770s, being the key enabling technology.[1] more... at Chronology
