An age of ideas

The 1700's have been an age of intellectual ferment in Western Europe. Philosophers and social thinkers have drawn inspiration from scientists and have sought to base the understanding of political and moral issues on reason rather than religion. Some have even rejected Christianity as an outdated doctrine. Proponents of science and reason call their movement the Enlightenment.

Revolution

Some Enlightenment ideas helped fuel two revolutionary movements that rocked Europe and America in the late 1700's. First came the war for independence by 13 British colonies in America, then a massive revolution in France that put an end to the French monarchy. As the century draws to a close, the new government of the United States has been generally stable. But the situation in France remains chaotic, and it is unclear what kind of government will emerge from the French Revolution.

Asian withdrawal

The intellectual experimentation in Europe has caused some concern in other lands. Out of fear that strange ideas from Europeans could bring about cultural instability, China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire have prohibited Christian missionaries from seeking converts in their territories. In contrast, in Russia, Czar Peter I and Czarina Catherine have sought to remodel Russian society along Western European lines. Recently, however, Czarina Catherine has become alarmed at the French Revolution and has withdrawn support for further reform.