Grand Dictionnaire historique

The Grand Dictionnaire historique was an influential French encyclopedia compiled by Louis Moréri and first published in 1674. It was notable for its alphabetical arrangement and strong emphasis on geographical and biographical content. The work was highly successful, with six editions published by 1691, and it inspired numerous other encyclopedias across Europe.1

While Moréri's dictionary aimed to defend Roman Catholic teachings, it was later overshadowed by works with different biases. Pierre Bayle, for instance, published his Dictionnaire historique et critique in 1697, which, while ostensibly a supplement to Moréri's work, was known for its scholarly annotations that challenged orthodox beliefs. This marked a shift towards encyclopedias reflecting more skeptical and anticlerical viewpoints, paving the way for later influential works like the Encyclopédie.213