The central idea of the Enlightenment, which significantly influenced revolutions, was the emphasis on reason, individualism, and the pursuit of knowledge. Philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau critiqued traditional authority and advocated for ideas such as government by consent, human rights, and the separation of powers. This intellectual movement, which flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries, encouraged people to question dogma and seek rational explanations for societal issues. The Enlightenment's principles directly contributed to revolutionary movements, notably the American Revolution and the French Revolution, as people sought to establish governments based on liberty, equality, and democratic ideals.