The primary influence of Enlightenment thinkers was the promotion of reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasized rational thought, scientific inquiry, and the belief in human rights and democracy. Their ideas challenged established norms, promoting ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Enlightenment thought laid the groundwork for significant political revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions, and it greatly influenced modern political theory and the development of democratic societies.