The Age of Enlightenment, spanning the 17th to 19th centuries, was a cultural and intellectual movement promoting reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and religion. This era witnessed the questioning of established norms and the exploration of ideas related to governance, ethics, and society. Philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau advocated for liberty, equality, and democracy, influencing revolutions and reforms across Europe and the Americas. The Enlightenment advanced concepts of human rights and citizenship, paving the way for contemporary democratic principles and institutions by fostering a spirit of inquiry and valuing knowledge as a means of progress.