The key cultural influence of the European Enlightenment was the promotion of reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau emphasized the importance of rational thought and empirical evidence in understanding the world, which laid the foundation for modern science and philosophy. The Enlightenment encouraged questioning of established norms, particularly concerning governance and religion, leading to revolutionary ideas about democracy, human rights, and freedom. This intellectual movement significantly influenced the American and French Revolutions, ultimately shaping contemporary political ideologies and promoting the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.