The Renaissance had a profound effect on life in France, not only on art & architecture but also on views of life. Until then people had been seen as subject to the will of the Church and the Monarchy who decided all. The humanism of the Renaissance also had its effects on philosophy & politics by encouraging individualism & the right of the people to influence their own future.

The 18th century is referred to as the ‘Siecle des Lumieres’ (Century of Lights) & was intended to symbolize the cultural & military glory of the Versailles based Monarchy. However there was another distinctly different side to life. The pomp & splendour of court life ran in tandem with wholesale poverty & hardship causing discontent, which inevitably led to the Revolution with its rallying cry of ‘Liberty, Egalite, Fraternite.’

This period is also known as the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ – an era of great philosophers who exchanged ideas in the coffee houses & salons of Paris. These ‘freethinkers’ shared a common objective to change the way people think & bring enlightened minds together.

1789 brought the Revolution & the Declaration of the Rights of Man in preparation for Frances first constitution. It asserted that all men are ‘born & remain free & equal’ echoing the principles set down earlier by the philosopher, Jean- Jacques Rousseau, in his ‘Du Contrat Social’ & his theory on democracy. Rousseau was renowned as the greatest liberal thinker & advocate of democracy in the 18th century. His works covered everything from education to politics from theology to science. Rousseau maintained the only authentic governments were those democratically elected by the people. He also said that true Christian living involved allowing God to act in people’s lives without the self-benefiting interference of those in power.

In his famous novel ‘Emile’ Rousseau states the panacea for a truly healthy life is free access to elementary education such as: reading, writing & arithmetic … this was fervently opposed by the Nobility & the Church, both of whom enjoyed great privileges & saw education as a potential threat to their elite status in society.

Though ancient Greece was the crucible for the birth of democracy internecine fighting between Grecian city-states weakened the democratic structure & they became easy prey for, firstly Alexander then later the Romans. Thus, we can thank Rousseau, a visionary & a man of great courage, for being the true inspiration of democracy & free education throughout modern Europe.