During the Age of Enlightenment, which spanned the 17th to the 18th centuries, significant developments in philosophy, science, and political thought took root. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau promoted ideals such as reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. This period fostered discussions about democracy, human rights, and the social contract, ultimately influencing revolutions in America and France. The Enlightenment encouraged people to challenge existing norms and advocate for rational thought, scientific exploration, and social reforms, thereby laying the groundwork for modern Western society and its democratic principles.