The French Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot challenged established norms and promoted ideas about liberty, equality, and the importance of education. Their writings laid the groundwork for modern democratic thought and influenced various revolutions. This period also saw the rise of salons, where philosophers and writers gathered to discuss ideas and share knowledge. The Encyclopédie, edited by Diderot and d'Alembert, was a significant publication that aimed to compile and disseminate human knowledge, reflecting the Enlightenment's spirit of inquiry and progress.