See also my related world literature courses and DBQ writing.  

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that occurred in the Early Modern era.  The thinkers and ideas that developed during this time build the foundation for the modern world, including such moments at the American Revolution and the founding of the US Constitution.

In this course, we will explore the major ideas, discoveries, and thinkers of the Enlightenment era.   We will read primary documents to discover what exactly those thinkers thought and believed, as well as the impact of those ideas on western civilization.  I love to teach students to "do" real history, so we will discuss how to evaluate documents, and practice as we work through our discussions. Class is very interactive and discussion based in the Socratic method.  Each week students will have reading and writing assignments to develop their thinking about the philosophies and ideas we are discussing in class.  

Week 1--What is the Enlightenment?  How did the worldview shift?  What are the salons and coffeehouses and why are they significant?  Where did this movement originate?
Week 2--Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu
Week 3--Hobbes vs. Locke and the political ideas of the Enlightenment
Week 4--Influence of Enlightenment ideas:  science and revolution