The Restoration and Enlightenment Era

The Age of Reason: 1660-1798

In Britain…• Misfortune befalls London: -Great Plague kills thousands (1665) –Five Day Great Fire (1666) –Reign of King James Begins (1685)• Sir Isaac Newton discovers gravity (1687)• Parliament passes Bill of Rights (1689)• England and Scotland united as Great Britain (1707)• George I (1714) George II (1727) George III (1760)• British rule over India begins (1757-1947)• Britain defeats France, acquires Canada (1763)• Revolutionary War begins, losing effort (1775-1783)• British settlement of Australia (1788)

In The World…

• Science had been propelled forward• Monarchs no longer ruled by Divine

Right• citizens had conversations about their

nation’s policies and the course of world events.

• 1661- King Louis XIV builds grand palace at Versailles

• 1703-Peter the Great builds St. Petersburg

• 1793-Louis XVI executed by guillotine

In Literature… • Literature was expressed in: • Poetry, comedies, heroic plays and couplets, prose,• Tragedies, satires, allegories, and novels• Very important author during this era was Samuel

Pepys,• In which his diary became very famous.• Prose: this became the most important literary form

during this era.• Literature use: In this era, readers took importance

on reflecting on • The positive and negative aspects of this time

period. Some writers of this era offer their views on the restored monarchy, human nature, the proper behavior of children, and role of women in society.