Reference no: EM13896365

Montesquieu was born in Bordeaux, France on January 6, 1689 and died in Paris, France on February 10, 1755. He was the first French scholar to influence the period of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a historical period during the 18th century characterized by an unwavering faith in reason as the solution to the social, moral and political problems faced by mankind. This assurance that reason was the answer came at the expense of abandoning traditions and religions that had been considered answers to man's problems in the past.

He was born into moderate wealth. His mother, who died when he was seven, brought the title of baron to the family as well as contributing a great deal of wealth. Montesquieu received a modern education at the Oratorian Collège de Juilly, at Meaux, France. He began studying law in 1705 and was permitted to begin practicing in Bordeaux in 1708. In 1715 he married a wealthy Protestant named Jeanne de Lartigue. He inherited the Barony of Montesquieu and the Presidency of the Bordeaux Parliament in 1716 when his uncle died.