what is enlightenment in history

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement that occurred in Europe, especially Western Europe, in the 17th and 18th centuries, with global influences and effects. It was characterized by the rise of reason and the scientific method as tools for understanding the world and bringing about progress. The Enlightenment emphasized the use of reason to advance understanding of the universe and celebrated reason as the power by which humans understand the universe and improve their own condition. It brought secular thought to Europe and reshaped the ways people understood issues such as liberty, equality, and individual rights. The Enlightenment has long been seen as the foundation of modern Western political and intellectual culture, and it brought political modernization to the West by introducing democratic values and institutions, leading to the creation of modern, liberal democracies. The Enlightenment also tended to stand in tension with established religion, as it emphasized the release from self-incurred immaturity and the daring to think for oneself, ultimately leading to a better, more fulfilled human existence.