The Age of Enlightenment began in the late 17th century and flourished through the 18th century. It was marked by a shift in thinking towards reason, science, and individual rights, challenging traditional authority and advocating for intellectual discourse. The publication of influential works by philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu played a crucial role in promoting ideas about democracy, human rights, and rational thought. This intellectual movement laid the foundation for subsequent revolutions, including the American and French Revolutions, significantly altering societal views on governance and human potential.