The interactive map explores physics characters, their stories, and how they influenced each other. The ancient philosophers, the Arabian age, and the electrical enlightenment are included.

The University of Groningen provides information about the 17th century British liberal philosopher. Includes concise biographical information and a link to the text of "A Letter Concerning Toleration." Read about what part of his...

Meet the Baron de Montesquieu, one of the great thinkers of the 18th century. He spent a lot of time thinking about how governments should be created and maintained. These ideas guided the Founding Fathers when they wrote the...

Explore the ideas of Enlightenment thinker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. His writings on natural and social freedom, the social contract, and democracy shaped the American system of government in a variety of ways.

Read about how the state governments in the new American nation served as the laboratory to try out new ideas of governing and treating citizens. See how remarkably similar the ideas put forth in state constitutions were to each other.

Catherine II, called Catherine the Great, reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years, from 9 July [O.S. 28 June] 1762 until her death. Marrying into the Russian Imperial family, she came to power with the deposition of her husband Peter...

Introduce young scholars to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.