The cultural impact of the Enlightenment on Modern Europe was profound, marking a shift toward reason, individualism, and secular thought. Emerging during the 17th and 18th centuries, Enlightenment ideas challenged traditional authority and the legitimacy of monarchy and religion, promoting democratic principles and human rights. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke argued for liberty, equality, and justice, influencing political revolutions, including the American and French Revolutions. The Enlightenment nurtured a spirit of inquiry and skepticism that encouraged advances in science, philosophy, and the arts, laying the groundwork for modern democratic societies and cultural movements.