1. Seven-year war ravages Europe and changes balance of power overseas

2. American Colonies win independence from Britain

3. Revolutionaries overthrow monarchy in France

4. Captain James Cook explores Pacific

5. Knowledge of the day published in Encyclopedie

6. Major scientific advances achieved

7. Power-driven machinery brings growth to textile industry

8. Ancient Roman riches unearthed near Vesuvius

9. Peter the Great westernizes Russia

10. Development of a practical steam engine

5. Knowledge of the day published in Encyclopedie

In the middle to late 1700's, French authors Denis Diderot and Jean d'Alembert edited and compiled an impressive multivolume work known as the Encyclopedie. The books contain learned articles from writers in many different fields and cover the latest scientific discoveries of the day. The work has been welcomed by many rationalists, but some church and political leaders condemn the Encyclopedie because they say it contains dangerous revolutionary opinions.

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