The Encyclopedia (Encyclopédie)

The Encyclopédie was a groundbreaking 18th-century French publication that aimed to compile and share human knowledge across all fields—science, philosophy, arts, and technology. Edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert, it sought to promote Enlightenment ideals like reason, critical thinking, and progress. Designed to be accessible to educated readers, it challenged traditional authorities and church teachings, encouraging intellectual freedom and innovation. With contributions from numerous experts, the Encyclopédie helped spread new ideas, fostering cultural and scientific advances and shaping modern ideas of knowledge dissemination and education.