The era often referred to as the Age of Enlightenment in Europe spans the 17th and 18th centuries, marked by an intellectual and philosophical movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant challenged established norms and advocated for social, political, and scientific progress. This period encouraged critical examination of society, with ideas surrounding human rights, democracy, and scientific inquiry gaining traction. The Enlightenment laid the ideological groundwork for modern democratic governments and contributed to significant events like the American Revolution and the French Revolution, reshaping Western thought and values.