The controversial origins of the Encyclopedia - Addison Anderson
459,332 Views
6,344 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
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.
Today, some fields and industries have entire bodies of knowledge that recycle every couple years or faster. If you had to spend thirty years on one reference work starting today, what topics would you focus on?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Addison Anderson
- Animator Patrick Smith
- Composer Stephen LaRosa
- Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
- Narrator Addison Anderson
