Western Educational Development: Enlightenment
The Age of Reason
It was after the reformation, in the 17th century, when Western civilization underwent the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was not a singular event, nor even sparked by one, but instead was considered a period when people across Europe and America began questioning traditional authorities, and the numerous productions of written works, inventions, and war revolutions were thrust into action. This Age of Reason propelled the idea of rational thought and critical thinking. Consider some of the great figures of this time, such as Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei, and significant events as the American Revolution and signing of the Declaration of Independence or the French Revolution of 1789. The collective sense of this era was a multiplier in the importance of western education. The strong focus on science and math, for example, during this time expanded human knowledge through the many great works.