The impact of the Age of Enlightenment on Western political thought was profound, fostering ideas of reason, individualism, and democracy. Spanning the 17th to 18th centuries, this intellectual movement challenged traditional authority and monarchies, promoting the belief that governments should be based on social contracts that prioritize individual rights and liberties. Thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau laid the groundwork for modern democracy, advocating for concepts such as equality, separation of powers, and the right to revolt against oppressive governments. The Enlightenment inspired revolutionary movements, including the American and French Revolutions, and continues to influence contemporary political ideologies and systems.