The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that was popular in Europe during the 18th century. It focused on reason and the individual, and emphasized the principles of individual liberty and free thought. It brought about a period of social, political, and scientific progress, which changed the way people lived and thought about the world. The Enlightenment began in France and had a strong influence in other countries such as England, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. It was a time of great innovation and new ideas in science, philosophy, and politics. Enlightenment thinkers sought to use scientific reason to challenge the authority of the church and the traditional religious views of the time. They advocated for religious tolerance, reasoning, and scientific progress, as well as the defense of human rights. They championed the separation of church and state, and were instrumental in the development of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789 during the French Revolution. The Enlightenment was a key period in the history of Western culture and its legacy continues to shape our society today.