In the previous article titled Pliny the Elder… and the Pearl Route, the early efforts to compile various branches of science and knowledge into a single book were explored. This endeavor was persistently pursued by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder in his work, Natural History.
This article, divided into two parts, will discuss the evolution of printed encyclopedias from the 18th century to modern and contemporary times.
Encyclopedias serve as a valuable and rich repository of information, providing organized knowledge across various disciplines. The English term Encyclopedia originates from a Greek-derived word meaning “general education” or “circular education,” reflecting the comprehensive nature of such works. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an encyclopedia as “a work that contains information on all branches of knowledge or treats a particular branch of knowledge comprehensively, usually arranged in alphabetical articles by subject.”
It is essential to differentiate between specialized encyclopedias and general ones. Specialized encyclopedias focus on a single field of knowledge, whereas general encyclopedias, which are the focus of this article, aim to cover various sciences and disciplines according to the era in which they were written.
This article highlights major printed encyclopedias that have had a significant cultural impact from the 18th century to modern times. These include the renowned work of French philosopher Denis Diderot, The Encyclopedia or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts, commonly referred to as The Encyclopedia. The first part of the article will present a historical overview of the motivations behind its creation, while the second part will explore other encyclopedias such as Encyclopædia Britannica, The American Encyclopedia, and Collier’s Encyclopedia.
The 18th century witnessed a revolution in the publication of scientific encyclopedias. The English writer Ephraim Chambers, born in 1680 and deceased in 1740, is credited with initiating this movement. He authored a concise two-volume encyclopedia titled Cyclopaedia: or, An Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, first published in 1728 and dedicated to King George II of Britain.
Chambers’ work marked the beginning of an encyclopedia revolution that defined the 18th century. In this context, the German scholar Johann Heinrich Zedler (1706–1751) published his encyclopedia, The Great Universal Lexicon of All Sciences and Arts, in 64 volumes, beginning in 1731 and continuing over several years.
Despite various attempts to compile a comprehensive encyclopedia, Denis Diderot is credited with creating a widely influential work in Europe. Born on October 5, 1713, Diderot played a pivotal role in developing an encyclopedia that covered diverse disciplines and branches of knowledge.
Diderot’s encyclopedia project began when the French publisher André Le Breton suggested translating Ephraim Chambers’ work into French. Diderot initially accepted the task but gradually expanded the content, eventually developing a new and independent work. His encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts, became a landmark intellectual achievement.
Diderot led a life dedicated to arts and sciences, adopting a “bohemian” lifestyle that allowed him to immerse himself in intellectual pursuits. As a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, he played a significant role in shaping the French cultural landscape of his time.
Published in 35 volumes between 1751 and 1772, Diderot’s Encyclopedia was a pioneering work for its era. It contained 72,000 entries and over 20 million words, covering a wide range of subjects, fields, and crafts. It contributed to the intellectual movement of the time, leaving a lasting impact on the evolution of encyclopedias and knowledge dissemination.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Source: Akhbar Al Khaleej
Dr. Hamad AlAbdulla, Executive Director