The period between 1660 and 1780 is known variously as the Age of Enlightenment, the Age of Sensibility, the Neoclassical Age, the Augustan Age or the ‘long eighteenth century’.

After the Civil War and the Restoration of Charles II to the throne of England, an event commonly known as the ‘Restoration’, England sought stability in society, politics and religion. Early victories in the Anglo-Dutch wars (1665–67) were later negated by heavy losses. Peace was restored after King Charles signed the Treaty of Breda (1667). The Parliamentary system was now in place and two parties, the Tories and the Whigs, emerged. Charles II proved to be an indifferent king and the intellectuals – who were undoubtedly encouraged and patronized by him – were soon disillusioned. Protestantism established itself more firmly, interrupted by a Catholic reign, that of James II (1685–88). In 1688, James II was replaced by William of Orange in a coup that was almost entirely peaceful and is known in history as ‘the Glorious Revolution’ or ‘Bloodless Revolution’. Commerce became even more important during the period and it was greatly facilitated by the founding of the Bank of England in 1694.

In terms of intellectual contexts, ‘reason’ and ‘rationality’ replaced speculation and abstract reasoning. The age rejected a mere passive acceptance of handed-down truths, preferring empirically verifiable and studied ideas. There was a distrust of established authority in the sciences and the leading intellectuals of the age refused to accept anything other than the evidence of their eyes.