Enlightenment Timeline

• 1677
  Ethics by Baruch Spinoza is published.
• 1721
  Montesquieu publishes his Lettres persanes (Persian Letters).
• 1726
  Francis Hutcheson coins the term "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" in his Inquiry Concerning Moral Good and Evil.
• 1734
  Voltaire publishes his Letters on England.
• 1740
  David Hume publishes his A Treatise of Human Nature.
• 1748
  David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.
• 1748
  Montesquieu publishes his The Spirit of the Laws where he outlines his separation of powers.
• 1750
  Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his First Discourse.
• 1751
  The monumental Encyclopedia, edited by Denis Diderot, is published.
• 1751
  David Hume publishes his An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.
• 1751
  The Catholic Church adds Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws to the Index of Forbidden Books.
• 1755
  Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his Second Discourse.
• 1756
  Voltaire publishes his Essay on the Manners and Spirit of Nations.
• 1757
  David Hume publishes his Dissertation on the Passions.
• 1759
  Voltaire publishes his Candide.
• 1759
  Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published.
• 1759 - 1797
  Life of the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.
• 1762
  Voltaire publishes his Treatise on Tolerance.
• 1762
  Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes The Social Contract.
• 1762
  Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his treatise on education Émile.
• 1764
  Voltaire publishes his Philosophical Dictionary.
• 1766
  Voltaire publishes his Ignorant Philosopher.
• 1773 - 1774
  Denis Diderot spends five months advising Catherine the Great.
• 1776
  Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations is published.
• 1776 - 1788
  Edward Gibbon publishes his The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
• 1781
  Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Pure Reason.
• 1788
  Immanuel Kant publishes The Critique of Practical Reason.
• 1789
  Jeremy Bentham publishes his thoughts on utilitarianism in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
• 1790
  Edmund Burke publishes his Reflections on the Revolution in France.
• 1791
  Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 1.
• 1792
  Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is published.
• 1792
  Thomas Paine publishes his Rights of Man part 2.
• 1794
  Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 1.
• 1795
  Thomas Paine publishes his Age of Reason part 2.
• 1796
  Thomas Paine publishes his Agrarian Justice.
• 1821
  Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot is first published.
• 1830
  D’Alembert’s Dream by Denis Diderot is first published.