Life in the UK Test
Sign in
Back to A Long and Illustrious History

The Enlightenment

Study note

The 18th century is often called the Enlightenment. It was a period when many new ideas about politics, philosophy and science developed in Britain and across Europe. A key principle of the Enlightenment was that people had the right to their own political and religious beliefs, and that the state should not try to control them.

Scottish thinkers were especially important during this time. Adam Smith was an influential economist whose ideas helped shape modern economics, and David Hume was a leading philosopher known for his writing on human nature. These men were thinkers and writers, not figures like Guy Fawkes or the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Remember the Enlightenment as a time of new ideas, with Adam Smith in economics and David Hume in philosophy.

Memory tip: Enlightenment = new ideas; Adam Smith (economics) and David Hume (philosophy).

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 1 · choose two

Select TWO important thinkers of the Enlightenment in Britain.

Score so far: 0 / 0
Show all questions and answers for The Enlightenment(1 question with explanations)

The Enlightenment: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Select TWO important thinkers of the Enlightenment in Britain.

    • David Hume
    • Guy Fawkes
    • Adam Smith
    • Isambard Kingdom Brunel

    Correct answer: David Hume and Adam Smith

    Adam Smith and David Hume were leading thinkers of the Enlightenment.

Back to A Long and Illustrious History, or try a mock test or timed exam.