Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment was a major intellectual and philosophical movement that swept across Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Also known as the Age of Reason, this period saw thinkers, writers, and scientists challenge traditional ideas about government, religion, and society. Enlightenment philosophers believed that reason and scientific thinking could improve human life and solve social problems. The Age of Enlightenment fundamentally changed how people thought about their relationship to authority and laid the groundwork for modern democracy and human rights.