The Enlightenment Period

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and authority. Thinkers like Voltaire, Locke, and Rousseau encouraged questioning established beliefs, promoting ideas such as freedom of thought, equality, and democratic governance. This period led to advances in science, philosophy, and politics, laying the groundwork for modern ideas about human rights and democracy. It was a time of significant change, fostering a mindset that valued evidence, critical thinking, and the pursuit of knowledge as means to improve society.