Book of the Ages: Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Age of Enlightenment

1 In the fullness of time, as the dark shadows of ignorance loomed over the earth, a light began to break forth, heralding the Age of Enlightenment.

2 From the ashes of the Middle Ages, when knowledge was cloistered in the hands of a few, came a resurgence of learning and inquiry.

3 It was an era marked by the quest for reason, science, and a deeper understanding of the natural world, leading men to seek the truth that had long been obscured.

4 In the lands of Europe, scholars arose, inspired by the ancient texts of Greece and Rome, which had been preserved by the monks in their scriptoriums.

5 The rediscovery of these works, particularly the writings of Aristotle and Plato, ignited a thirst for knowledge that swept across the continent, leading to the establishment of universities.

6 In Paris, Bologna, and Oxford, institutions of learning flourished, where students gathered to discuss philosophy, science, and the nature of existence.

7 Among the luminaries of this age was René Descartes, who proclaimed, “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”), emphasizing the role of human reason as the foundation of knowledge.

8 His writings challenged the established doctrines of the Church, advocating for a systematic approach to understanding the world.