The Enlightenment, spanning the 17th and 18th centuries, was significant in shaping modern views of liberty by promoting reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire argued for natural rights, the social contract, and religious tolerance, which laid the groundwork for modern democratic thought. The emphasis on rationality and human agency encouraged people to question oppressive regimes and advocate for freedom of expression, speech, and political participation. Enlightenment ideas significantly influenced revolutionary movements, such as the American and French Revolutions, fundamentally altering notions of government, citizenship, and individual rights in the modern world.