The Age of Enlightenment brought a significant change to political thought by emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu challenged established beliefs about government, advocating for ideas like democracy, natural rights, and the separation of powers. This period marked a shift from absolute monarchy and feudalism toward concepts of representative government and civil liberties. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual groundwork for revolutions, including the American and French revolutions, as Enlightenment ideals inspired people to seek greater political participation and fight against oppressive regimes, fundamentally altering the landscape of governance.