How many questions are in this quiz?

This quiz has 197 questions on the Encyclopédie and knowledge classification in the Enlightenment.

No. There’s no timer, and each question provides 4 answer options.

Can I choose the number of questions I answer?

Yes. You can select your preferred question count before starting, depending on how long you want to play.

What does “Mixed” difficulty mean here?

Mixed combines easier recall (people, aims, key terms) with harder items about classification logic, context, and interpretation.

What skills will I practice with this quiz?

You’ll practice identifying key figures and concepts, reading classification schemes, and connecting editorial choices to Enlightenment debates.

Encyclopédie & knowledge classification

About this quiz

What this quiz covers

Step into the Encyclopédie’s ambitious project: who built it, what it claimed to organize, and how classification reflected Enlightenment values.

You’ll practice linking articles, disciplines, and editorial choices to bigger debates about reason, authority, religion, and the public sphere.

How the quiz works

Each question has 4 options and there’s no timer, so you can read closely and think through the best fit.

Pick your question count before you start, and choose a difficulty setting; “Mixed” blends straightforward identification with deeper interpretation and context.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Confusing the Encyclopédie’s classification tree with modern academic departments
Mixing up Diderot’s and d’Alembert’s roles or attributing articles to the wrong contributors
Treating “classification” as neutral rather than a philosophical argument about knowledge
Overlooking crafts and techniques (arts mécaniques) as central to the project
Missing how censorship, privilege, and publication history shaped what appeared in print

How difficulty is balanced

Early questions tend to focus on core people, dates, and aims, while later items more often test nuance: terminology, relationships between fields, and what the structure implies.

Because the set is mixed, expect occasional curveballs alongside easier recall—ideal for both revision and discovery.