Enlightenment in a Smart City: Edinburgh's Civic Development, 1660-1750

Why did Enlightenment happen in Edinburgh?

This is a study of Enlightenment in Edinburgh like no other. Using data and models provided by urban innovation and Smart City theory, it pinpoints the distinctive features that made Enlightenment in the Scottish capital possible.

In a journey packed with evidence and incident, Murray Pittock explores various civic networks – such as the newspaper and printing businesses, the political power of the gentry and patronage networks, as well as the pub and coffee-house life – as drivers of cultural change. His analysis reveals that the attributes of civic development, which lead to innovation and dynamism, were at the heart of what made Edinburgh a smart city of 1700.

Key Features

• Defines what we mean by ‘Enlightenment’ in general and ‘Scottish Enlightenment’ in particular
• Uses modern innovation and smart city theory to understand Edinburgh in 1700
• Identifies the cosmopolitan nature of Enlightenment Edinburgh
• Identifies Edinburgh ‘firsts’ and early innovations