Enlightenment Tour, British Museum

The Enlightenment was an age of reason and learning that flourished across Europe and America from about 1680 to 1820. This rich and diverse permanent exhibition uses thousands of objects to demonstrate how people in Britain understood their world during this period. It is housed in the King’s Library, the former home of the library of King George III.

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(Pictured - the orrery in the Enlightenment Gallery)

Objects on display reveal the way in which collectors, antiquaries and travellers during this great age of discovery viewed and classified objects from the world around them.

The displays provide an introduction to the Museum and its collections, showing how our understanding of the world of nature and human achievement has changed over time.

The Enlightenment Gallery is divided into seven sections that explore the seven major new disciplines of the age: Religion and ritual, Trade and discovery, the birth of archaeology, Art history, Classification, the decipherment of ancient scripts and Natural history. It was opened in 2003 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the British Museum.

Themes in the Enlightenment Gallery

The gallery has seven sections exploring the seven major new disciplines of the age:

Religion and ritual (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_religion.aspx)
Trade and discovery (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_trade-discovery.aspx)
The birth of archaeology (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_archaeology.aspx)
Art and civilisation (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_art.aspx)
Classifying the world (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_classification.aspx)
Ancient scripts (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_ancient_scripts.aspx)
The natural world (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment/enlightenment_natural_world.aspx)

Read more about the Enlightenment Gallery. (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/galleries/themes/room_1_enlightenment.aspx)

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Meeting up

6.15 - 6.30pm - Meet by the The Piranesi Vase, pictured above, in the middle of the Enlihtenment Gallery. I'll have a Meetup sign.

6.30pm - the Spotlight Tour will start, led by a Museum Volunteer

7.00pm - Choose to stay in Gallery or visit another Gallery - groups or individuals may splinter off. Some people might remain in the Court Restaurant, so call me if you are late as we may have made a base camp there. Jobeda: 07809601366.

8.30pm - Galleries close, so we'll head to a local pub, a couple of minutes walk away - find us there if you lose us, I'll have the Meetup sign again.

Plough, 27 Museum St, London WC1A 1LH

Map of pub location (https://goo.gl/maps/Q8lpA)

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