Encyclopaedia

The Encyclopaedia or rational Dictionary of Sciences, Arts and Occupations of the 18th century, the greatest work of the century, was edited under the direction of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert between 1751 and 1772. It was the first French-language encyclopaedia, bringing together all the knowledge of its time. It quickly came to symbolise the work of the Enlightenment, and as such was decried by the Church, especially by the Jesuit order.