The central idea behind the **Enlightenment movement** was the promotion of **reason**, **science**, and **individual rights**. Emerging in the 17th and 18th centuries, this intellectual movement emphasized critical thinking and challenged traditional authority, including **monarchies** and the **Church**. Enlightenment thinkers, such as **Voltaire** and **John Locke**, argued for the importance of rational thought and the inherent rights of individuals, contributing to concepts of democracy and human rights. This movement laid the groundwork for various revolutions, including the **American** and **French Revolutions**, fundamentally altering societal structures and governance in the modern world.