The primary focus of the Enlightenment period in history, which emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, was the promotion of reason, individualism, and scientific thought. Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority, particularly in religion and politics, advocating for ideas such as democracy, liberty, and human rights. Philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored themes of governance, ethics, and human nature, laying the intellectual groundwork for revolutionary movements around the world. The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and empirical evidence contributed significantly to advancements in science and philosophy and altered the course of Western history.