Historical and Critical Dictionary

The Dictionnaire Historique et Critique (or Historical and Critical Dictionary in English) was a biographical dictionary written by Pierre Bayle, a Huguenot who lived and published in Holland after fleeing his native France due to religious persecution. The dictionary was first published in 1697, and enlarged in the second edition of 1702. The contents were almost all people (historical and mythical), but some articles treat religious beliefs and philosophies. Many of the more dangerous ideas in the book were hidden away in the voluminous footnotes, or slipped into articles on seemingly uncontroversial topics.

The rigorous and sceptical approach used in the Dictionary was an influence on important eighteenth-century figures such as the French Encyclopédistes, David Hume, and George Berkeley. Bayle sought to promote religious tolerance, and argued strongly against inflexible and authoritarian application of religious dogmas. This led to a bitter argument with his fellow French Protestant Pierre Jurieu.