The main focus of the Enlightenment era in Europe, spanning the 17th and 18th centuries, was the promotion of reason, science, and individual rights as the foundation of knowledge and governance. Thinkers and philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and John Locke emphasized rational thought, empiricism, and skepticism of traditional authorities, including the church and monarchy. Enlightenment ideas championed liberty, justice, and the rights of individuals, leading to significant political and social upheavals, such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution. This period laid the intellectual groundwork for modern democratic and secular societies.