The controversial origins of the Encyclopedia - Addison Anderson

The first encyclopedia contained 70,000 entries and over 20,000,000 words. It was broken into 35 volumes written over the course of 3 decades. It was also banned by Louis XV and Pope Clement XIII. But why was this encyclopedia so controversial, and who wrote it in the first place? Addison Anderson recounts the controversial origins of the first encyclopedia.

Lesson by Addison Anderson, animation by Patrick Smith.

[nateslovebug]

"So, he got to work, with something way worse and much bigger" I already like this guy!

[spencer]

"Aguaxima, a plant growing in Brazil and on the islands of South America. This is all that we are told about it; and I would like to know for whom such descriptions are made. It cannot be for the natives of the countries concerned, who are likely to know more about the aguaxima than is contained in this description, and who do not need to learn that the aguaxima grows in their country. It is not meant for us either, for what do we care that there is a tree in Brazil named Aguaxima, if all we know about it is its name? What is the point of giving the name? It leaves the ignorant just as they were and teaches the rest of us nothing. If all the same I mention this plant here, along with several others that are described just as poorly, then it is out of consideration for certain readers who prefer to find nothing in a dictionary article or even to find something stupid than to find no article at all."

[clarkepercivaljaeblood]

I love that Addison Anderson has his own lesson and narrated it himself ❤

[seal]

This is amazing, so many great men sacrficing their lives for the advancement of mankind.

[audreydwyer]

omg Addison Anderson actually wrote a lesson instead of just narrating?! good for you, my dude. you did a great job!

[JeshuranPaul]

Louis once spent 20 years writing a book on anatomy, shipped it to Amsterdam to be published uncensored, and the ship sank. Damn!

[Drvelasco]

HAHAHAHA. The aguaxima article is too funny.
Also of note, Diderot translated the first ever medical dictionary from a famous (in his time) english doctor. One of the entries of the dictionary listed a unicorns horn as a recipe for a medicine.

[birawaich]

It's just so interesting to think about that this was the "first wikipedia"! The encyclopedia was a key part to the enlightenment, which just shows us how valuable public knowledge is :)

[MsClelia]

Watching your videos, I realize time after time how much French people have marked history haha, that makes me proud of my country! Thank you for the history reminder, even though we study that a lot in France. Your videos make everything easier to remember!

[shy_dodecahedron]

His encyclopedia is written much better than a lot of my textbooks.

[anirudhaswal]

my fav narrator gave this lesson...(y)

[ePaie]

I have a newfound respect for the encyclopedia.

[cheeseweasel]

I feel that the last sampled entry quite nicely sums up most TV. It doesn't inform, or help, but its purpose is for those who do not want to learn, or do not need help, but simply want something to watch (read) just to pass the time :)

[BatGuy]

I am proud of human beings. This is the kind of history we deserve.

[rocappreciater]

I think Ming Dynasty China has created something similar to an encyclopedia. The Emperor Yongle commissioned Yongle Canon(永乐大典) in 1403 and was completed in 1408. But sadly most of those copies were lost during the Palace fire of 1567, Li Zi Cheng's occupation of Beijing, Boxers rebellion and opium war.

[mitsukoakao-dent]

Ted-Ed:
Thank you for your program. Education, beautiful, music and voice. All happiness to you.

[alexanderphilip]

The Encyclopedia was on of humanity's finest achievements

[Jonathan_T]

We can quote Voltaire, Montaigne, Rousseau, all were very good in their arts... but only one of them was an absolute genious out of his time : Diderot. Not enough quoted and red (except in french graduation tests^^), he was this kind of guy who doesn't fit into his era. I'm French but only by reading the article at the end of the video in english, I recognize his style (read Jacques the Fatalist ! all the book is like this article !^^), and I still can believe that in the 18th century there were people writing and thinking like that...

[digitalatom]

I read that article just now. Today it's something a comedian would say, because it's quite funny. Back then, I could understand why people were pissed off. They didn't accept freedom of speech yet I suppose.

[AwesomeYena]

Does anyone else have to watch this for school?