During the Enlightenment, political theory shifted towards ideas centered on reason, individual rights, and social contracts. Thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored concepts of government legitimacy based on the consent of the governed, advocating for democracy, liberty, and equality. Locke's theories on natural rights and the protection of private property influenced revolutionary movements. Montesquieu's separation of powers framework provided the groundwork for modern democratic systems. Overall, the Enlightenment reshaped political thought, emphasizing rationality and the belief in human progress, which laid the foundation for modern democratic ideologies.