The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights. Key figures included John Locke, who advocated for natural rights and government by consent, and Voltaire, known for his criticism of religious intolerance and advocacy for freedom of speech. Other notable Enlightenment figures were Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who explored the concept of the social contract, and Immanuel Kant, who emphasized the importance of reason in human understanding. These thinkers laid the groundwork for modern democracy, human rights, and scientific inquiry, influencing political and philosophical thought worldwide.