Published in 17 volumes plus 11 volumes of plates illustrating the industrial arts, the Encyclopédie (1751–72) was the major collaborative work of the French philosophes. Under the editorship of Denis Diderot (1713–1784) and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert (1717–1783), the Encyclopédie provided a comprehensive exposition of all scientific, technological, and historico-philosophical knowledge from an Enlightenment perspective. Overcoming the barriers of censorship and political persecution, the Encyclopédie became the most powerful instrument in disseminating scientific information and liberal socio-political ideas. It proved influential in preparing the intellectual ground for the French Revolution of 1789.