The event that marked the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe is often attributed to the publication of René Descartes' "Meditations on First Philosophy" in 1641, which emphasized reason and scientific thought. However, the Enlightenment is credited with a broader intellectual shift that included works from philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Isaac Newton. This period was characterized by an emphasis on reason, individualism, skepticism of traditional authority, and the pursuit of knowledge through experimentation and rational discourse. The Enlightenment profoundly influenced political thought, leading to changes in governance, ethics, and society, shaping modern Western thought.