The Enlightenment Movement

The Enlightenment was an 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and authority. Thinkers like Voltaire, Locke, and Rousseau promoted ideas such as freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and equality, challenging old beliefs and systems. This movement encouraged critical thinking and scientific exploration, shaping modern democracy, human rights, and education. It was a pivotal period that fostered a shift towards rational thought and questioning authority, laying the groundwork for modern political and social progress.